Study of 7,000 Russian soldier messages reveals abuses, corruption in Ukraine war

A 250-page study based on nearly 7,000 messages exchanged in 2025 between Russian soldiers and families exposes systemic abuses, corruption, and bribes to avoid combat, obtain permits, or access medical care. The findings corroborate prior reports of Russian troops being treated as expendable, but the scale of internal documentation is notable. This matters as it could affect morale and domestic support for the war, though the immediate operational impact is unclear.