Erkki Koort: Cancer in the Russian army – Moscow has created a problem it cannot solve

The Russian army has always had a major problem with organized crime, which is deeply embedded in the state system. Before the full-scale invasion, Russia's military was considered the second strongest in the world, but in reality, there has always been another army within it – organized crime. The most visible form is "dedovshchina," the psychological and physical abuse of younger conscripts by older ones, leading to serious injuries and deaths. However, organized crime in the military extends much further: emptying army warehouses, illegal production of drugs and other goods, smuggling, extortion, and even hiring "private armies" from within military units.

After Russia's war in Ukraine stalled, Moscow initiated massive recruitment of prisoners and those under investigation, first through the Wagner private military company and later directly through the Defense Ministry. While this boosted troop numbers, it created a new and deepening problem – criminal elements took over entire units, leading to extortion, torture, murders, prostitution, and illegal sales of drugs and alcohol. Criminal groups take a large portion of the money meant for the recruits, and extortion via beatings and sending recordings to families is common. Families pay to prevent the victim from being killed.

The Russian army makes no attempt to change this situation because it is too complicated and beneficial to many. The military leadership benefits because it does not matter whether soldiers are driven to attack by an officer or by criminal torture. Officers benefit through enrichment and additional control. Criminals naturally benefit and can afford luxuries. Even soldiers benefit, as they can buy their way out of attacks if they have money.

Such a malignancy would destroy any normal army, but in Russia's case, it both weakens and strengthens – theft has always been the norm and is built into the system. Crime in the army has always existed, but its impact was amplified by the wars in Ukraine in 2014 and Syria in 2015, and accelerated further in 2022. A separate category is controlling Chechnya through organized crime that has taken the form of state structure, also used against Ukraine.

Organized crime is so entrenched at the front that it hinders warfare, but the system works well enough to organize so-called "meat assaults." The Kremlin's problem is that when the war ends, the criminal system will flow into civilian life but not leave the military. Crime has eaten so deeply into the system that it is impossible to remove. These criminal structures are reshaping Russia and will seek outlets beyond its borders, putting neighboring countries under enormous pressure. Moscow's hope was to use criminals to win the war, but it has become one reason why Putin cannot end it.