Russian Police in Crisis: Exhausted, Disillusioned, and Demoralized

In January 2020, a horrifying incident took place in Krasnodar, Russia. Despite multiple calls to the police reporting the sounds of a violent attack on a woman, no officers arrived at the scene. Eventually, neighbors broke into the apartment and discovered the woman had been brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Later, five officers were found guilty of negligence resulting in death, but their lenient sentences were criticized. This incident sheds light on the critical shortage of police officers in Russia, despite the country having one of the largest police forces in the world. Many experienced officers are leaving the force due to low salaries and stressful work conditions. As a result, overstretched police forces are refusing to open cases and the high pressure is leading to corruption. The declining number of officers is further compounded by a purge of officers linked to opposition politician Alexei Navalny. The war in Ukraine initially kept some officers from leaving as they were exempt from military duty, but now police numbers are dwindling. The Russian government predicts it will need an additional 42,000 officers by 2026 if further territories are occupied. Officers are prohibited from expressing their opinions on the war, and the increased paperwork related to the conflict is causing burnout. As a result, investigations into crimes against ordinary people are likely to suffer in the future.