From Russia with Fear

War Comes Home: Bombs, Pardons, and Family Violence in Russia

In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we look at three disturbing stories from Russia: a car bombing in Balashikha near a military-linked neighborhood, the life sentence of SVO veteran Artem Buchin for the murder and sexual assault of his ex-wife and her seven-year-old daughter, and the case of elderly parents in Novosibirsk accused of strangling their alcoholic son. Together, these stories show how violence spreads from war and prisons into homes, streets, and ordinary families.

Power Without Consequences: Inside Russia’s Culture of Impunity

A former FSB lieutenant colonel sentenced to 18 years for organizing a contract killing walks free after signing a military contract. A senior Russian Defense Ministry official is arrested in the latest corruption scandal to hit the military bureaucracy. And an investigator receives only a suspended sentence after illegally declaring a mother of two wanted and having her detained for refusing to sign a protocol. In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three cases that expose the blurred lines between power, corruption, and accountability in modern Russia. From a failed assassination carried out with a rocket launcher to bribery inside the Defense Ministry and abuse of authority by law enforcement, these stories reveal a system where those entrusted with enforcing the law often find themselves accused of breaking it.

Pardoned, Armed, and Untouchable? Russia’s Troubling Cycle of Violence

A Russian army sergeant shoots at conscripts to force them to work and receives only a suspended sentence. A pardoned soldier deserts the front, threatens teenagers with a knife, and still receives leniency because of his military service. A former police officer convicted of killing his wife leaves prison for war, returns home, and demands a place in the lives of the children he orphaned. In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three disturbing cases that expose the growing connection between military service, reduced accountability, and violent crime in Russia. From abuse of power inside the army to domestic violence and crimes against children, these stories reveal a justice system where punishment can become negotiable and victims are often left behind.

Nightmare in Bakhteevo-Park: Explosions, Murder, and Fraud Across Russia

A gathering of friends in Bakhteevo-Park near Ramenskoye turned deadly when a grenade exploded and a fire claimed two lives, including a bound and stabbed homeowner. In Kirov Region, a 20-year-old mother fatally beat her two-month-old son and hid his body in an abandoned outbuilding. In east Moscow, a pregnant woman was strangled by her boyfriend during a drunken dispute. Meanwhile, in the Ural region, a gang of scammers exploited soldiers of the SVO, using fake marriages and contracts to steal millions.

From Murder to Corruption: How Violence and Impunity Thrive in Russia

A Russian soldier records himself stabbing a drinking companion 150 times while declaring how much he enjoys killing. A convicted inmate helps create a fake drug-trafficking network allegedly orchestrated by an FSB officer to boost arrest statistics. And a former politician accused of embezzling nearly 40 million rubles avoids trial by joining the war in Ukraine. In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three shocking cases that expose the intersection of violence, corruption, and a justice system increasingly shaped by war. From brutal murder to fabricated criminal cases and suspended prosecutions, these stories raise difficult questions about accountability, power, and the human cost of impunity in modern Russia.