Kathrine Frich
On Russian social media, outrage over Unit 31831 is growing.
On Russian social media, outrage over Unit 31831 is growing.
Inside Unit 31831: Torture, Bribes, and Suicide Missions
New reports from the eastern front in Ukraine are shedding light on shocking abuse within Russia’s own ranks.
Unit 31831, part of the 54th Motorized Infantry Regiment, is accused of systemic brutality against its own soldiers, including torture, extortion, and forced participation in near-suicidal missions.
Families are calling on Vladimir Putin to intervene, as anger boils over online and within Russian society.
Commander Accused of Barbaric Punishment
At the center of the scandal is Major Oganes Petrosian, commander of Unit 31831.
According to multiple reports, soldiers under his command have been subjected to severe beatings, tied to poles, locked in cages, and denied basic living conditions.
The abuse is reportedly used both as punishment and as a tool to extort bribes.
Sleep Deprivation and Public Humiliation
Soldiers accused of minor infractions, like drinking alcohol, have allegedly been forced to sleep tied up outside on the ground.
Others were deprived of food, shelter, or medical care.
Accounts describe a climate of fear, humiliation, and total lack of due process within the unit.
Bribes to Avoid Certain Death
Several sources report that soldiers are expected to pay bribes of around 50,000 rubles (about £475) to avoid being sent on missions with near-zero survival odds.
Those unable or unwilling to pay are reportedly deployed in these high-risk assaults anyway. This is what insiders call “zeroing out.”
“These Are Sadists, Not Commanders”
On Russian social media, outrage over Unit 31831 is growing.
Posts describe Petrosian and others as “cowards” and “traitors,” with one user stating: “Such things don’t happen even in prison.”
Many now view the unit’s leadership as enemies from within, rather than defenders of the nation.
Families Beg the Kremlin for Help
Desperate for answers and action, families of the affected soldiers have appealed directly to President Putin.
In one open letter, relatives wrote:
“We are forced to turn to you as the guarantor of the rights of servicemen and their families.”
Many accuse the military of concealing the fate of missing soldiers.
“My Son Is Missing”
Some family members have taken to online forums, posting urgent messages in search of loved ones.
One plea reads:
“My son is missing. He is from unit 31831, 54th regiment. He signed the contract in Persianovka. He entered the combat zone on February 25. He is missing. If anyone knows anything, please respond. Callsign: Hottabichi.”
Propaganda Still Paints a Rosy Picture
Despite these troubling reports, the Russian state continues to promote a sanitized image of the armed forces.
In Volgograd, schoolchildren posed in military uniforms for a fundraising campaign supporting Unit 31831.
The unit even issued a public letter thanking them for their “help and caring attitude.”
Corruption Is Undermining the War Effort
According to the Center for European Policy Analysis, Russia’s military is up to 12 times more corrupt than the European average.
This corruption manifests in bribery, theft, and embezzlement, factors that analysts believe have significantly weakened Russia’s battlefield performance.
An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Russian soldiers are believed to have been killed or gone missing since the start of the war.
