One of Russia’s most decorated battlefield heroes was unmasked as the alleged mastermind of a brazen fraud scheme in which elite soldiers allegedly shot themselves – and even their own commander – to collect lucrative combat injury payouts, according to local reports.

Investigators allege that Lt. Col. Konstantin Frolov – nicknamed “the Executioner” for his sniper skills – not only fabricated his heroic acts but also helped his troops siphon nearly $2.5 million in a sweeping military fraud scheme, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. 

The outlet said a former brigade commander, Artem Gorodilov, was also implicated in the case. 

At least 35 officers in Russia’s elite unit, the prestigious 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade, reportedly sat out of combat and collected almost $40,000 each, the outlet reported. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has led the Kremlin in a war against Ukraine for three years. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The scandal erupted last summer when a whistleblower alerted authorities, Kommersant reported. Frolov was arrested in June 2024, followed by Gorodilov a month later, the outlet said, adding that both now face charges of fraud. 

In addition, Frolov reportedly kept three captured pistols, a machine gun, magazines with ammunition, several mines and grenades, according to Kommersant. The colonel has been accused of bribery and illegal trafficking in weapons and ammunition, the outlet reported.

Smoke rises over the Kyiv skyline after a Russian attack, Monday, July 8, 2024. Lt. Col. Konstantin Frolov allegedly faked numerous combat injuries during Russia’s war against Ukraine. (AP Photo/ Evgeniy Maloletka)

According to open data, Gorodilov was also charged with fraud on an “especially large scale,” the outlet reported.