Storm-V

Storm-V was created on 24 June 2023.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} It was claimed that Storm-V units did not offer pardons or even parole and extend convicts' contracts indefinitely until the end of the war, unlike Storm-Z units where pardon was promised after a 6 months contract.{{cite web | url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3818610-russia-no-longer-offers-pardons-to-convicts-going-to-war-isw.html | title=Russia no longer offers pardons to convicts going to war - ISW | date=26 January 2024 }}{{cite news |last1=Fokht |first1=Elizaveta |last2=Barabanov |first2=Ilya |last3=Ivshina |first3=Olga |title="If you sign up now, get ready to die, mate." Life on the Ukrainian front for Moscow's new 'Storm V' convict soldiers |url=https://bbcrussian.substack.com/p/new-deal-russian-convicts-fighting-in-ukraine |access-date=30 May 2024 |agency=BBC Russian News |date=January 28, 2024}} The Storm-V was involved in the Battle of Avdiivka.{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-avdiivka-donetsk-isw-1869350 | title=Avdiivka map shows Russian advances as Ukraine makes gains in south | website=Newsweek | date=13 February 2024 }} It is currently involved in the Battle of Chasiv Yar.{{cite web | url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-reports-heavy-battles-in-bakhmut-direction-as-russia-pulls-in-reserves/ | title=Ukraine reports heavy battles in Bakhmut direction as Russia pulls in reserves | date=27 February 2024 }}

According to BBC News Russian, Storm-V units are poorly trained like their predecessors in the Storm-Z units, with a member reporting that he and his unit was given just 12 days of training before being sent to the frontline. The same source reported that Storm-V soldiers are often sent on suicidal assaults, and those who refuse to carry out assaults are sent to so-called "punishment pits" or are executed.{{cite news |last1=Fokht |first1=Liza |last2=Barabanov |first2=Ilya |title=Surviving Storm V – the brutal reality of life on the frontline as a Russian convict fighter |url=https://bbcrussian.substack.com/p/brutal-reality-of-life-russian-convict-fighter |access-date=30 May 2024 |agency=BBC News Russian |date=May 24, 2024}} However, in comparison with Storm-Z units, Storm-V units are given full pay similar to the regular Russian military as well as benefits and allowances.{{cite news |last1=Fokht |first1=Elizaveta |last2=Barabanov |first2=Ilya |last3=Ivshina |first3=Olga |title="If you sign up now, get ready to die, mate." Life on the Ukrainian front for Moscow's new 'Storm V' convict soldiers |url=https://bbcrussian.substack.com/p/new-deal-russian-convicts-fighting-in-ukraine |access-date=30 May 2024 |agency=BBC Russian News |date=January 28, 2024}}

In October 2024 Finnish media Helsingin Sanomat released an article about a Finnish-speaking Russian prisoner of war who was part of Storm-V.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=HS Ukrainassa {{!}} Suomalaistaistelija ällistyi, kun venäläisvankien joukossa olikin toinen suomalainen – HS:n saama video näyttää miesten kohtaamisen |url=https://www.hs.fi/kirjeenvaihtajat/art-2000010760071.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}} He was interviewed by a Finnish soldier in the RVC unit that captured him. When he was asked about how the Russian military treated you, he answered that they had been "abandoned like wet rags left to dry on our own", "all the wounded are laying around and dying" and that they "had probably eaten more sand here than regular food".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2auRCIsWnAs |title=Venäjän armeijassa taistelleen Juhan haastattelu Ukrainan armeijan suomalaistaistelijalle. |date=2024-10-15 |last=Suomi-Ukraina Maanpuolustusyhdistys |access-date=2024-10-15 |via=YouTube}}

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Category:Pro-Russian militant groups

Category:Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Military units and formations established in 2023

Category:2023 establishments in Russia

Category:Penal military units