A court in the Russian Urals region of Orenburg on June 11 sentenced a former Wagner mercenary group fighter to 18 years in prison for stabbing to death his friend's mother, attempting to murder his friend, and theft. Kirill Smirnov was serving a lengthy prison term for murdering a young woman in 2015 when he was recruited by Wagner to fight in Ukraine. He returned from the war in April 2023. The number of crimes in Russia committed by former Wagner recruits and other former ex-military personnel has been on rise since early 2023 as soldiers returned from duty. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities, click here.
Former Wagner Fighter Jailed For Murder After Return From Ukraine War
Wagner fighters (file photos)