During the partial mobilization announced by the Russian government in 2022 for its invasion of Ukraine, Alexander Medvedev* (name changed), a 38-year-old from Kemerovo in Siberia, was called up and served as a machine gunner in the Ural Battalion. However, upon reaching the front lines in early 2023, he was struck by the unprofessionalism in his “elite” unit. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Medvedev stated, “I witnessed my squad leader die of an overdose back in the rear area, so you can draw your own conclusions about the quality of recruitment and the contingent in our elite battalion.” He claimed a local worker supplied soldiers with drugs.
Medvedev is among a group of Russians disillusioned with the war who have since deserted. He alleged that after the officer’s overdose death, his body was dragged to the battle lines to be reported as killed in action so his family would not lose benefits. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the cause of death. Drug use on the battlefield has a long history, but modern technology, the proliferation of synthetic substances, and the deployment of convicted soldiers on both sides—many of whom struggled with substance abuse before the war—have made narcotics consumption common in Ukraine.
An analysis of 133 Russian servicemen treated at a Novosibirsk psychiatric hospital between 2022 and 2024 showed that 61% suffered from mental ailments associated with mind-altering drugs, the most frequent condition. The problem also affects Ukraine’s army: according to a survey by the NGO 100% Life Rivne Network, 38% of Ukrainian troops had used amphetamines in the past three months, while two-thirds had smoked cannabis. Harm reduction specialist Alexei Lakhov told Al Jazeera that the use of prescription medications like barbiturates and anti-anxiety drugs such as Lyrica has become rampant among Russian troops.
Drug dealing occurs via apps like Telegram, with orders placed using cryptocurrency and delivered to dead drops or sometimes directly to trenches. According to the independent Russian publication Verstka, during the occupation of Kherson in 2022, “men in uniform” kidnapped local drug dealers and tortured them to hand over their stashes and Telegram channels. Medvedev said, “I know first-hand that the flow of drugs into the [combat] zone is now rampant. I doubt the command isn’t aware of this; I think many high-ranking officers in the army are making a good living from it.”
Russia has managed to maintain its manpower partly by drawing on its prison population, reducing the inmate count from 433,000 in 2023 to a historic low of 308,000 today. Lakhov noted that prisoners under anti-drug laws became the main reservoir for recruitment into private military companies like Wagner and later into Storm-Z assault units. Ukraine has also recruited convicts, including drug offenders, in exchange for early parole, but to a lesser extent. Short of manpower, Ukrainian forces are more lenient: failing a drug test simply means losing pay.
This may have consequences as veterans return home. Lakhov emphasized, “The combination of PTSD and substance abuse represents the most severe form of post-combat pathology. This category of patients presents a particular challenge for rehabilitation, as organic brain damage limits the effectiveness of psychotherapy.” This exacerbates risks of violent crime and recidivism among veterans in Russia.
Source: www.aljazeera.com