Two army deserters in eastern Siberia killed a general, after beating their lieutenant senseless.  Each year, 40,000 conscripts desert or declare themselves conscientious objectors to military service. The chief cause of this is the brutality encountered by new troops and the poor conditions brought about by corruption and incompetent officers. Some 2,000 soldiers die each year from non-combat causes. Many of  these deaths are a result of the brutality (abuse by other soldiers and officers as well as unsafe working conditions and poor food and housing.) Meanwhile, Russia has stopped pulling troops out of Chechnya.