According to a report by the Global Times on August 25, Konstantin Frolov, a former major of the 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops, has been formally charged with planning a large-scale military fraud case.

The core of the case lies in Frolov's collusion with 35 subordinates to fabricate battle injury records, thereby obtaining substantial compensation, medals, and paid leave, with the total amount involved exceeding 200 million rubles.

Investigations revealed that these so-called "injuries" were not caused by combat but rather by them shooting at each other or even hiring people to shoot themselves to create an illusion.

Frolov was once portrayed as a "war hero," appearing in Russian media claiming to have rescued battlefield orphans and being wounded seven times, but all of this has now been proven to be a carefully designed fraud.

He and the commander of the 83rd Brigade, Gorodilov, were arrested in June and July of this year, respectively, and have reached a plea agreement with the prosecution. The case is currently under military court review.

Frolov

It must be said, he is indeed a tough guy. Not only did Frolov get others to shoot at each other, but he also "led from the front," getting his subordinates to shoot him himself.

So how many bullets did he actually take?

Although the official details of his injuries are not disclosed, according to reports by media such as the New York Post and the Sun, Frolov claimed to have been wounded seven times on multiple occasions, which means he arranged to be shot seven times in order to defraud compensation.

This number seems exaggerated, but considering the need to coordinate medical records, disability assessments, and commendation materials for each injury, it would require both courage and strong organizational coordination ability to carry out such operations seven times consecutively.

From the information disclosed in the investigation, the injured areas he sustained were mostly non-lethal, clearly pre-designed angles and forces, aiming to look like combat injuries without causing serious harm.

And he wasn't alone in this. Thirty-five military personnel involved formed a vast chain of fabricated injuries, creating a systematized fraud mechanism. While others go to war to fire at enemies, they fired at each other.

Frolov

What exactly did these people gain?

On paper, Frolov personally received approximately 3 million rubles in compensation, equivalent to about 270,000 yuan, in exchange for four medals of courage and two medals of bravery. At first glance, six medals seem impressive, but in reality, these two medals are highly inflated.

The medal of courage is a mid-to-high-level honor during wartime in Russia, originally symbolizing real bravery and sacrifice. However, in recent years, as frontline casualties continue to rise, the frequency of awarding this medal has significantly increased. Many recipients have no actual combat records, merely submitting a report on their injuries to claim it.

The same phenomenon also applies to the medal of bravery, with rumors circulating within the military that whoever gets injured first can apply first.

In this environment, Frolov's six medals no longer carry the traditional weight of honor.

As for the money he obtained, it's honestly not much.

Given the high inflation and extremely high medical costs during wartime, 3 million rubles might not cover long-term rehabilitation, nutritional support, and mental trauma treatment. And that's assuming these injuries were real—people actually shot him.

He not only damaged his body, but ultimately shattered his reputation, career, and life as well.

Another officer suspected of fraud

What he is about to face is clear.

Legally, he is currently charged with military fraud, illegal possession of weapons, bribery, and other offenses, with the most severe charge carrying a sentence of over 10 years in prison.

Although he has reached a plea agreement with the prosecution, it does not mean he can easily escape punishment.

The Russian military prosecution system tends to be strict when handling cases of military honors fraud, especially when medals and money are involved, often favoring harsh sentences to deter others.

In addition, all his military honors and medals have been revoked, and his rank has also been canceled.

From the outcome, this is a complete failure case.

But from another angle, Frolov's actions also reflect a collective anxiety and systemic pressure under wartime conditions.

When real military achievements become increasingly difficult to obtain, and the risks on the front lines continue to rise, while the demand for heroic narratives within the system remains unchanged, some people may choose to deceive to construct the image of a hero.

This is shameful and terrifying.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7542782212609950234/

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