Russian Commander Charged in $3M Fraud Scheme

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Konstantin Frolov, the head of special operations for the 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Known by the call sign 'The Executioner,' Frolov faces charges alongside brigade commander Artem Gorodilov in a large-scale fraud case.

Investigators allege the officers established a systematic scheme involving self-inflicted injuries to obtain compensation payments. This operation reportedly extracted over 200 million rubles from the state budget. Frolov personally faces charges for six fraud schemes totaling 32 million rubles, receiving bribes exceeding 800,000 rubles, and additional crimes.

The case requires the court to strip Frolov of four Orders of Courage allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.

Criminal proceedings have reached the court stage regarding Konstantin Frolov, who served as the head of the group of special operations for the 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. The investigation identified Frolov by the call sign 'The Executioner,' a designation that became central to the case documentation.

According to the investigation's version of events, Frolov collaborated with Artem Gorodilov, the brigade commander, to establish a systematic operation. The scheme centered on so-called self-inflicted injuries - incidents staged to appear as combat-related wounds specifically to obtain compensation payments.

This organized effort allegedly allowed the military personnel to extract more than 200 million rubles from the federal budget through fraudulent compensation claims.

The criminal case against Konstantin Frolov encompasses multiple distinct charges that reveal the scope of the alleged corruption. The investigation has identified six separate fraud schemes directly attributed to the lieutenant colonel.

The total value of these six fraudulent operations amounts to 32 million rubles. In addition to the embezzlement charges, Frolov stands accused of receiving bribes totaling more than 800,000 rubles. The case file also includes 'other crimes' that were not detailed in the available information.

The charges represent a significant breach of military and criminal law, involving the exploitation of compensation systems designed to support legitimate combat injuries.

Regardless of the specific punishment determined during sentencing, the court faces a mandatory requirement regarding Konstantin Frolov's military decorations. The judge must strip the officer of four Orders of Courage.

The court proceedings established that Frolov received these state awards unlawfully, implying the honors were obtained through the same fraudulent activities that form the basis of the criminal charges. This requirement to revoke military honors represents an additional consequence separate from any prison sentence or fine.

The case continues to highlight accountability measures for military personnel who abuse their positions for personal financial gain.