Minister admits looting by Russian soldiers

Russia’s war

Minister admits looting by Russian soldiers

Moscow describes its occupying troops in Ukraine as “liberators.” A minister’s admission of their actions even in their own country near the border casts a pale light on the army.

The ex-governor of the Russian border region of Kursk, Roman Starovoit, has admitted that soldiers sent by Moscow to defend the region looted there. “There are facts of looting by both civilians and the military,” said Starovoit, who has since become the country’s transport minister, at a meeting with residents of the Glushkovo district, which directly borders Ukraine.

The admission was greeted with applause by the audience, according to a video clip from a local news portal on Telegram. Residents in the region had complained several times about break-ins in the houses they had left behind.

Ukrainian troops captured part of the Kursk region in their surprise summer counteroffensive. The Russian armed forces – according to media reports, are now supported by North Korean soldiers – are trying to push these troops out of the country again. The Russian state news agency Tass accused the Ukrainians of looting the towns they had conquered – and cited the town of Glushkovo as an example. This was never under Kiev’s control.

Moscow usually cracks down on reports of crimes committed by Russian soldiers in the war of aggression against Ukraine. Dozens of war opponents are in prison for allegedly discrediting the Russian army. The fact that Russian soldiers are robbing in their own country is therefore a rare admission from the Moscow leadership.