[2] However, on 12 February 2024, Dmytro Riumshyn, the commander of Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade, claimed that Russian forces were deploying regular troops, sabotage groups, as well as both "Storm-Z" and "Storm-V" penal units in Avdiivka.

[1] The unit's members are recruited from Russian prisons on the premise that successful service would result in a deduction of their sentence, as well as earn them $2,200 a month.

[9] British intelligence has stated that Russian commanders often punish soldiers who abuse drugs and alcohol by forcing them to fight in Storm-Z detachments.

Three Storm-Z POWs told CNN of routinely malfunctioning artillery, inaccurate rocket barrages, and commanders under the influence of painkillers giving "nonsensical orders".

[24][25] Storm-Z units were also notably used to reinforce Russian positions on the east bank of the Dnipro, namely to counter the Ukrainian crossing at Krynky.

[28] Storm-Z units also took part in the fighting around Sieverne and Avdiivka being used for early probing assaults, often without heavy support, to gauge Ukrainian defenses.

[2] Gladiator used to be one of the many battalion sized Storm-Z units, that was noted for its high efficiency in its operations, for the physical condition of its members, and their loyalty to the Russian ministry of defense.

"[32][2] Storm-Z personnel also consistently report that the units see no combat training, simply being given old surplus, if they're lucky, before being shipped to the front where most members die in their first operations.

Additionally, there are reports that officers execute Storm-Z personnel who protest the conditions, and attempt to organize the fighters to push for rations and equipment.

[35] On June 24, 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a law on the recruitment of convicts to contract service with the Defense Ministry, disbanding Storm-Z and replacing it with the new Storm-V units.