ISW: Russian military recruitment surpasses targets due to financial incentives and prison recruitment
Western aid could deepen Russia’s economic and military strain, pushing Putin toward meaningful negotiations in 2025, ISW says.
Browsing Tag
convict soldiers
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Ukrainian intel: Up to 180,000 Russian prisoners recruited for war in Ukraine
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence says Russian government eliminates signing bonuses for prison recruits joining Moscow's war in Ukraine amid the economic strain.
Ukraine legalizes mobilization of prisoners, mirroring Russian practice
Russia was previously the sole country widely conscripting prisoners to Ukraine's front lines, a practice Wagner group began in 2022 without changing Russian laws.
UK intel: Russia shifts from short to extended prison conscription
Russia ceased polemical short term recruitment of prisoners for the military in September 2023, transitioning to offering standardized long term conscription contracts until mobilization ends, per UK intelligence.
Russia increasingly frees convicted killers to fight against Ukraine – WP
Russia is recruiting as many as 100,000 convicts, including violent criminals, to fight in Ukraine, with some pardoned individuals, such as Vladislav Kanyus, participating in the war after serving minimal sentences for heinous crimes.
Russian convicted over Putin critic’s murder pardoned after fighting in Ukraine
Sergei Khadzhikurbanov who was given 20-year prison sentence Russia in 2014 for his role in assassinating the investigative journalist is now pardoned after he fought in Ukraine and remains in Russia's army.
UK intel: Russia depends on convicts in Ukraine offensives
Russia continues relying on Shtorm-Z units manned with convicts for Ukraine offenses, underscoring their low priority for support and orders to attack, according to UK intelligence.
Wagner Group expected to free convict soldiers, exacerbating its personnel issues – UK Intel
In its latest intelligence update, the British Defense Ministry says that the Wagner Group, currently banned from recruiting…
