Moscow lets prisoners fight as soldiers in the war against Ukraine. According to military experts, they should be used as “cannon fodder” to protect regular units.
According to British intelligence services, the Russian Ministry of Defense is now recruiting prisoners for the war of aggression against Ukraine itself. The British Ministry of Defense said it is likely that up to 10,000 prisoners joined the military in April 2023 alone.
The initiative has been running since the beginning of the year. The campaign is part of an attempt to increase the number of soldiers while avoiding a new mobilization, which would be very unpopular with the Russian public, sources in London said.
The Ukrainian secret service, among others, had previously reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense was recruiting prisoners. According to military experts, the prisoners, who are promised a pardon in return for their deployment, are to be used as “cannon fodder” to spare regular units.
The Wagner mercenary group had previously recruited new fighters in Russian prisons since the summer of 2022. In the course of a dispute with the Ministry of Defense, however, Wagner lost access.
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
Source: Stern
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