Russische Kommandeure fordern 30.000 Pfund, um Soldaten von der Front zu verschonen

***The Telegraph reports:***

Russian commanders are charging up to £30,000 to spare soldiers from the [front lines in Ukraine](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/), military experts have said.

The Telegraph has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers are offered the chance to pay extortionate sums in exchange for their safety – [a practice experts say is systemic](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/04/30/putins-gangster-state-is-bleeding-his-forces-dry/).

Video footage recorded by a Russian soldier shows his junior sergeant revealing a corrupt network within the military, involving widespread extortion and the illicit trafficking of weapons.

Denis Kolesnikov claimed commanders “reset” soldiers – a euphemism for sending them to their deaths – if they refuse to pay the sums demanded of them, which could range from £10,000-£30,000.

“More than half of our unit were reset by the commanders,” he said. “Everyone has to pay the commanders. If someone doesn’t pay, they’re considered unnecessary, sent to the front, and reset. I personally saw several people killed.”

**Full story:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/19/russian-commanders-demand-30k-spare-soldiers-front-line/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_reddit_30k-spare-soldiers-front-line/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/19/russian-commanders-demand-30k-spare-soldiers-front-line/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_reddit_30k-spare-soldiers-front-line/)

This is about as surprising as death and taxes.

That’s more than the sign on bonus they receive, which begs the question why they sign up in the first place?