Storm-V (russian: Шторм-V, Shtorm-V) is a series of penal military units established by a law which was signed by Russian President

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...

which disbanded

Storm-Z Storm-Z (russian: Шторм-Z, Shtorm-Z) is a series of penal military units established by Russia by April 6, 2023, at the latest. On June 24, 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law disbanding Storm-Z and replacing it with new S ...

and replaced it with

Storm-V Storm-V (russian: Шторм-V, Shtorm-V) is a series of penal military units established by a law which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin which disbanded Storm-Z and replaced it with Storm-V. The V in Storm-V stands for "vityazi", ...

. The V in Storm-V stands for "vityazi", the Russian word for ‘knights.’

History

Storm-V was created on 24 June 2023 when Russian President Vladimir Putin disbanded Storm-Z and created Storm V. However, on 12 February 2024, Dmytro Riumshyn, the commander of Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade, claimed that Russian forces were deploying regular troops, sabotage groups, as well as both "Storm-Z" and "Storm-V" penal units in Avdiivka. 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. The Storm-V was involved in the

Battle of Avdiivka The battle of Avdiivka was a battle in the war in Donbas near Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine that was fought in late January and early February 2017. It saw some of the highest casualties during that phase of the conflict. According to th ...

. It is currently involved in the

Battle of Chasiv Yar The battle of Chasiv Yar is an ongoing military engagement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine between the Russian Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for control of the city of Chasiv Yar and surrounding villages. The battle began on 4 ...

. According to

BBC News Russian BBC News Russian (russian: BBC News Ру́сская слу́жба) – formerly BBC Russian Service (russian: Ру́сская слу́жба Би-би-си́) – is part of the BBC World Service's foreign language output, one of nearly 40 ...

, 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. 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.

References

Notes

{{notelist Pro-Russian militant groups Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Military units and formations established in 2023 2023 establishments in Russia Penal units