Russian commanders reportedly detaining soldiers in basement and demanding bribes for their release

A former prisoner who was recruited to fight in Ukraine as part of the Russian Storm Z unit told Novaya Gazeta Europe that commanders were detaining soldiers in a basement for committing offenses and then demanding bribes for their release.

According to the former prisoner, the basement where they are held is a small nine-square-meter (97-square-foot) room with 10 soldiers in it at all times. Soldiers can be sent there for even a minor offense and must pay 15,000-20,000 rubles ($160-$220) to be released.

The mother of another former prisoner who was recruited to the front told Novaya Gazeta Europe that her son’s commander withdrew money from bank cards that Russia’s Defense Ministry issued to Storm Z soldiers to receive payments.

Three other soldiers from the same unit told the newspaper they had never encountered extortion by their commanders.