“Death Can Wait”: Drugs on the Frontline in Ukraine

<p>Throughout history soldiers have used drugs, sometimes to fight better or to stay alert, or perhaps to help cope with the extreme psychological situation and trauma they are faced with. The current conflict in Ukraine is no different. </p><p>Concerns around this led to the Ukrainian parliament passing a new law that authorizes random drug and alcohol tests on soldiers. Organized crime is nothing if not adaptable, even in this most extreme environment. The soldiers fighting to protect their homeland represent a new and relatively wealthy market, ripe for criminal networks to exploit. And they are doing just that. </p><p>So who is behind this market? This is a story about war, drugs, the darknet and corruption.</p><p><strong>Speaker(s):</strong></p><p>Ted</p><p>Sasha</p><p><strong>Additional Reading:</strong></p><p><a href="https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/organized-criminal-economies-ukraine-2022/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">(GI Paper) New front lines: Organized criminal economies in Ukraine in 2022</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-lawmakers-tout-baseless-claims-ukrainian-super-soldiers-2022-7?r=US&amp;IR=T" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Business Insider - Russian lawmakers baselessly claim their army is up against biologically modified Ukrainian super soldiers</a></p><p><a href="https://www.livescience.com/65788-world-war-ii-nazis-methamphetamines.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LiveScience - Nazis Dosed Soldiers with Performance-Boosting 'Superdrug'</a></p><p>History - <a href="https://www.history.com/news/drug-use-in-vietnam" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">G.I.s’ Drug Use in Vietnam Soared—With Their Commanders’ Help</a></p><p><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/the-drugs-that-built-a-super-soldier/477183/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Atlantic - The Drugs That Built a Super Soldier</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve42DWluB8A" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blan