Russian War Hero Ordered Own Soldiers to Shoot Him for Fraud Scheme

In a scandal that shatters the myth of Russian military honor, one of Vladimir Putin’s most celebrated war heroes has been exposed as the alleged mastermind of a shocking fraud scheme. Lt. Col. Konstantin Frolov, known on the battlefield as “the Executioner,” reportedly ordered his own men to shoot him in non-lethal areas all to collect inflated combat injury payouts.

According to Russian media reports, Frolov and at least 35 elite soldiers from Russia’s 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade took part in the massive scheme, which funneled nearly $2.5 million in fraudulent claims. Each soldier allegedly walked away with payouts of nearly $40,000, without ever having to see real combat.

What makes this even more grotesque is that Frolov, hailed as a national hero by Kremlin propaganda, allegedly staged his own injuries multiple times. The sniper-turned-colonel had reportedly been awarded four “Orders of Courage” and two medals for valor medals now tarnished by deceit. Investigators say Frolov survived seven supposed wounds five minor and two “serious” but admitted the injuries were intentionally inflicted under his own orders to secure compensation.

This disgraceful charade came crashing down when a whistleblower tipped off authorities in summer 2024. Frolov was arrested in June, and his former brigade commander, Artem Gorodilov, was taken into custody a month later. Both are now facing charges of large-scale fraud and corruption.

The laundry list of allegations doesn’t stop there:

• Frolov is also accused of illegal weapons trafficking, with investigators seizing three captured pistols, a machine gun, mines, grenades, and ammunition from his possession.

• Gorodilov faces additional charges of fraud on an “especially large scale,” raising questions about how deeply this rot runs through Russia’s armed forces.

• The scandal further tarnishes Russia’s image as the war in Ukraine drags into its third bloody and fruitless year.

The Putin regime has leaned heavily on war heroes like Frolov to prop up national morale amid growing discontent, high casualties, and crumbling international credibility. Now, even that propaganda façade is cracking.

While the Western media often portrays Russia’s military machine as tightly disciplined and fearsome, this latest debacle reveals the darker truth: corruption, cowardice, and cover-ups thrive under authoritarian rule. The supposed “heroes” of Putin’s war are, in some cases, little more than opportunists gaming a broken system for personal gain.

As Russia continues to bleed lives and resources in a war it cannot win, it’s clear that even its most decorated warriors are no longer willing to fight unless there's a paycheck attached.

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