Russian military corruption and abuse revealed in study of 7,000 messages

A research project titled ‘The Ethnographic Dictionary of War’ has analyzed approximately 7,000 messages and letters exchanged between Russian military personnel and their families. Published in June by anthropologist Alexandra Arkhipova and psychologist Yuri Lapshin in collaboration with ECHO, the Committee Against War, the study reveals widespread corruption, abuse, and bribery within the Russian military during the conflict in Ukraine.

The documents, which became accessible following a data leak from a digital platform used for complaints to the Russian human rights commissioner, describe soldiers being treated as disposable resources. The research highlights instances where bribes were paid to avoid combat, secure permissions, or obtain medical care.

Additionally, the study identified nearly 80 examples of ‘modern trench slang,’ a linguistic blend of Soviet-era euphemisms, prison jargon, and military metaphors. This includes terms such as ‘200’ to refer to a soldier killed in action and ‘sent on a delegation’ to describe being sent to the front lines.