Each man lacking arms is a mechanical being.

News Article: Russian Soldiers with Disabilities Forced to Remain in Service

In a troubling development, reports have emerged of soldiers with disabilities being forced to remain in active service despite their injuries and legal provisions for discharge.

One such soldier is 40-year-old Ivan Topchiy, who lost his arm due to a shrapnel-penetrating injury in December 2023. Despite being given a permanent disability category "D" by a medical commission, making him unfit for service, Topchiy was initially refused leave after the hospital and is currently not receiving treatment for his hand injury and hepatitis B. His wife reports that he is threatened with being sent "behind the line" if he continues to insist on his rights.

Another soldier, Dmitry Mischenko, signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense in October 2023. He lost his right arm in the summer of 2024 while serving in the military. Mischenko has documents stating that he is unfit for permanent service with the disability category "D". However, he was held in Voronezh's unit 54801 and threatened with being sent to the front. Despite a year having passed, Mischenko has not received the main compensation for his injury, which is 3 million rubles. His communication was lost after March, and his parents refuse to speculate on his current whereabouts due to fear.

Siberian human rights activist Alexey reports that catching sick and wounded soldiers with category "D" started in the military as early as November 2024. This is supported by the emergence of a camp for soldiers who refused to fight or went AWOL in Kuzbass in February 2025.

There are no specific publicly confirmed details about a particular Russian command structure responsible for reusing soldiers with amputations on the front lines. However, it has been reported that military police officers in Tuva were reported to have beaten wounded soldiers, including those on crutches and with non-functioning hands, in January 2025.

Despite an internal directive not to let anyone go, the Russian military is sending armless soldiers, including Dmitry Mischenko, to the front instead of dismissing them. This practice has raised concerns about the treatment of soldiers with disabilities and the violation of their human rights.

The situation underscores the need for increased scrutiny and accountability in the treatment of soldiers with disabilities in the Russian military. It is essential that these individuals receive the care and support they need and are not forced to return to active duty against their will.