The BBC's Andrew Harding reports on the shocking brutality

Up to 40,000 young conscripts have fled their bases across the country, many because of bullying from fellow conscripts.

Even some of Russia's elite regiments have been disgraced

Video tapes showing evidence of soldiers taking part in brutal discipline sessions have been broadcast on Russian television.

Some of the footage shows young conscripts being repeatedly beaten and kicked by senior soldiers.

One runaway conscript, who is wanted by the Russian army for deserting a regiment outside Moscow, prefers to live on the streets rather than face the brutality inside the barracks.

One teenage victim

"They used a stick to hit us on the spine and legs," he said. "I was afraid for my life."

The level of violence revealed has put pressure on the military to take action.

According to Russia's military prosecutor, General Yuri Demin, there are around 1,000 criminal cases being investigated.