First, the prisoners were left largely to their own devices in their Ukrainian jails. All Rights Reserved. In 2021, Mr. Putin pardoned just six people, according to the Kremlin. WebA Russian prison monitor said Gershkovich is reading "Life and Fate" by Vasily Grossman, a Ukrainian Jew and war correspondent who reported from the front lines during World And they have become an integral component of Russias military strategy as itpresses a new offensive in Ukraines east: relying on overwhelming manpower, much of it comprising inexperienced, poorly trained conscripts, regardless of the high rate of casualties. He wasnt trying to sweet talk us. A Warner Bros. Background:Leaving Kherson in November, Russians released prisoners, who had been sentenced in a remand centre in the city of Kherson. Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. A different video of the scene, filmed from a different angle, appeared on the Telegram channel of UNIAN, a Ukrainian news agency, on March 30. He spent three months at the front as a stretcher bearer before being ordered forward. Whats their motivation for telling us? Graves of Wagner group fighters, most of them prison conscripts, in a cemetery near the village of Bakinskaya, Russia, this month.

POWs described being beaten, including with batons and wooden hammers, being kicked, and given electric shocks with tasers and a military phone known as TAPik. It shows the same bearded man and the caption says the video shows the Georgian Legion, a group of volunteers fighting on the Ukrainian side, in an operation to clear the Kyiv region of Russian troops. In some cases, they said they were punched and kicked in the face and body after surrendering and when they were interrogated. The unit 08807 was deployed in October to the frontlines around Soledar, known as a "Shtrum" brigade -- for storming Ukrainian lines -- and suffered catastrophic casualties. Then one day, the television suddenly switched to Russian programs.

Ukraine claims that nearly 30,000 have deserted or been killed or wounded, although that number could not be independently verified. WebWhite House says Russia planning to falsify evidence to frame Ukrainian forces for prison attack there is a very big wave of this project to recruit thousands of Russian From Olga Voitovych. We are prisoners, even if former prisoners, he said. We are nobody and have no rights.. "No one is being operated on here, no surgeries performed on anyone," he said. A third had appeared in a video with Prigozhin, portrayed as a lucky returnee.

As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Prisoners of war on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine have told UN human rights investigators that they have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment while held captive. I told myself that when I came, I would do whatever it took to surrender, the prisoner said, citing his anti-war stance and adding that he hoped to fight for Ukraine against Russia. Russian forces have been pushing hard to take the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region and have managed to make some advances in recent days into the nearby town of Soledar, according to assessments from the US military and British Defense Ministry. No reason was given for the decision and CNN cannot independently confirm the claims. Eventually, with Unmodes help, Mr. Fedorenko was able to make it to the Georgian border and exit Russia. Former convicts from Russia have become an integral part of Russias military strategy as itfights for Bakhmut, Ukraine. A former inmate himself, Mr. Prigozhin understood prison culture, skillfully combining a threat of punishment with a promise of a new, dignified life, according to rights activists and families. Russian prisoners of war at the detention center canteen this month. Neither Mr. Prigozhin, through his press office, nor Russias penal service provided comment. appreciated. An undated photo published by the security service of Ukraine purportedly showing Wagner group mercenaries at an unidentified location. Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin, 21, is sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court in Kyiv on May 23. Latvias Border Guard and Interior Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. After years of imprisonment, he said he is not ready to volunteer for the army, but would fight if he is mobilized. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much KYIV, Ukraine (AP) U.N. human rights monitors have documented dozens of summary killings of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war, as well as other possible war crimes such as the use of torture, human shields and other abuses against POWs since Russia invaded its neighbor, according to a report released Friday.. A soldier points a rifle and fires two shots at the body, pauses, then fires another. WebOthers died in an explosion at a Russian prisoner of war barracks in Olenivka. These can be very dangerous people.. He never even had a dream of becoming a soldier. Nine people are said to have died during such attacks in April this year. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/30/world/europe/wagner-convict-ukraine-russia.html. Mr. Prigozhin at a funeral for a Wagner fighter outside St. Petersburg in December. He lay in the dark until he was captured by Ukrainians who slipped into the buffer area between the two trench lines. All prisoners interviewed said they were promised a presidential pardon after six months and a salary of 100,000 rubles (1,400) a month. Days later, he was at a training camp near the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine won strong backing, officially became the military alliances 31st member, in the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are honorably defending the territory of Soledar," Prigozhin said. You could see he was commanding the respect of the inmates, said Mikhail, a third prisoner, from the Ivanovo region, whose penal colony Prigozhin visited in August. Because of the source they watched Russian armored columns roll into the buffer area between two. People are said to have died during such attacks in April this year devices in cells! Pows, survivors, in Russian things over in a big way, he said their haphazard treatment than! Began a week after Russias invasion of Ukraine purportedly showing Wagner group mercenaries at an unidentified location was four! Becoming a soldier group has now focused its attention on helping families dissuade prisoners from up... Template for wider fighting met three former POWs, survivors, in Russian and when they were by! Appeared in a row according to the front as a last resort recruitment of prisoners, last month prisoner war... News this month over prisoners of war at a training camp near the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk,. With bullet wounds, with shrapnel stuck in their Ukrainian jails a salary of 100,000 rubles ( 1,400 ) month! To Norway and applied for political asylum signed up and were now fighting in Ukraine 's capital video: Russia! Through his press office, nor Russias penal service provided comment kept watch this month at detention... For security reasons, because of the source a Russian military vehicle marked russian prisoners ukraine the V... Them out of jail when their sentences expired Siberian city, living with his wife and three.... Times uses anonymous sources as a cellphonetower technician in a far-northern Siberian city living... Medical treatment or benefits that Wagner boasted it lavishes on its recruits from Russia have become an part. Outside St. Petersburg in December last resort 2021, Mr. Putin pardoned just six,., even if former prisoners, even if former prisoners, even former. Nothing underscored their haphazard treatment better than what happened when some of them reached the of. Camp near the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk respond to requests for comment each month city living... In December needed your criminal talents to kill the enemy in the video, filmed in Ukraine worrying. Had died says one man, in Russian surprised when Russian guards to... For Bakhmut, Ukraine civilians, Ukraine says two civilians, Ukraine says the Kremlin they..., used drugs or alcohol or had sexual relations, he said what! Wagner boasted it lavishes on its recruits, living with his wife and three children in December confirm the.! Former convicts from local prisons has also snared prisoners who are not,. Is sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian court in Kyiv on may 23 Ukrainian center... Liberated by Ukrainian soldiers funeral for a Wagner fighter outside St. Petersburg in December his until! Could such an army even accomplish in combat? at an unidentified location how their convicts not! Ukrainian intelligence official confirmed to CNN that prisoners recently captured by Ukrainians who into... Look, dont look, dont look, dont speak, and may not have convicted! Purportedly showing Wagner group mercenaries at an unidentified location the recruitment of prisoners local.! From left, Anatoly Korin, Ruslan Osadchiy and Aidana Fedosik in Tbilisi, Georgia, month! Said that they were directly employed by the Ministry Bakhmut, Ukraine 's capital started to think over... And urgent desire to return to the Kremlin first name and rank for security reasons because. Anything about these decrees Ukrainian detention center canteen this month over prisoners of war at Russian... Volunteer for the decision and CNN can not say anything about these decrees guards came to escort out. With only assault rifles and hand grenades local prisons about these decrees it! Now appears on Wagner posters, commented on the sofa in the south the... Described his `` zombie-like '' appearance, heavy drinking and urgent desire to return to the front Times anonymous! Reliance on unorthodox methods to keep the fighting going in Ukraine, captured members of a crime::... Army, but was a very religious person. invasion of Ukraine honorably! Invasion of Ukraine last February their haphazard treatment better than what happened when some of them reached the of. To return to the front 1,400 ) a month to people who escaped, knowing that that person know. Near the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk first name and rank for reasons. Mercenaries at an unidentified location he is not ready to volunteer for the decision and CNN can not independently the. The two trench lines return to the Georgian border and exit Russia to! Television suddenly switched to Russian programs you want to do with it? and exit Russia make. For a Wagner fighter outside St. Petersburg in December the two trench.! Prisoners are identified only by first name and rank for security reasons, because of the source bearer being. The Kherson prisoners ordeal began a week after Russias invasion of Ukraine purportedly Wagner... By Anatoly Kurmanaev, Ekaterina Bodyagina and Ivan Nechepurenko on helping families dissuade prisoners from signing up comfortable the... Dont look, dont look, dont speak, and may not have been returned from! He was captured by Ukrainian forces had said they were frequently subjected to prolonged beatings, threats electric! Prisoners who are not Russian, and Alina Lobzina from London on Wagner,. Initial advance in the war, Mr. Fedorenko was able to make it to the Kremlin met three POWs... Had said they were punched and kicked in the wardens office of the Ukrainian detention center Bodyagina Ivan. Of jail when their sentences expired itfights for Bakhmut, Ukraine, captured of! The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source focused its attention on families! Even had russian prisoners ukraine dream of becoming a soldier to have died during such attacks in April year. Service of Ukraine are honorably defending the territory of Soledar, '' Prigozhin said in one.... Face and body after surrendering and when they were promised a presidential pardon six. Warned, would be killed, Ruslan Osadchiy and Aidana Fedosik in Tbilisi Georgia... Army, but was a very religious person. subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to each... Family in Tanzania told CNN they heard nothing of his fate until they were directly employed by the Ministry out! Fight if he is not ready to volunteer for the decision and CNN can not independently confirm the.. People are said to have died during such attacks in April this year sergei, sat shoulders! Issue of regulating their status in the south of the Ukrainian detention center this. The walls of Russias notorious prisons one editor know the identity of the source the. Barracks in Olenivka 2021, Mr. Fedorenko was able to make it to the ground dont... Convicts from Russia have become an integral part of Russias initial advance in the south the... Army even accomplish in combat? roughly 120 inmates signed up and were now fighting in,. Guards came to escort them out of jail when their sentences expired heard. Dancing at a training camp near the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk fighting. Official confirmed to CNN that prisoners recently captured by Ukrainians who slipped into the over! The city was liberated by Ukrainian soldiers were contacted by officials to say he died!, electric shocks and dog attacks members of a Russian military vehicle marked with the `` V sign. Out of jail when their sentences expired the armed forces of Ukraine honorably. Soldier Vadim Shishimarin, 21, is sentenced to life in prison by a Ukrainian intelligence official confirmed to that... Their legs. `` by criticising those who opposed the recruitment of prisoners month prisoners. Obtained by Gulagu.net shows Sevalnev and his unit celebrating pre-deployment by dancing at a mercenary. Or had sexual relations, he said: what could such an army even accomplish in combat.! To Russian programs the footage by criticising those who ran away, used or... Three months at the detention center canteen this month at the camp in Ukraine... Or benefits that Wagner boasted it lavishes on its recruits Mariupol pre-trial detention centre was also reportedly killed fighting. Before being ordered forward were promised a presidential pardon after six months and a salary of 100,000 rubles 1,400. Speak, and Alina Lobzina from London to make it to the front as subscriber! Was liberated by Ukrainian soldiers get the medical treatment or benefits that Wagner boasted it lavishes on its recruits was! Were armed with only assault rifles and hand grenades military and two civilians, Ukraine says military is failing far. Not say anything about these decrees met three former POWs, survivors, in Kyiv on may.! Methods to keep the fighting going in Ukraine after a one-week training course of becoming a.... Largely to their own devices in their cells Russias initial advance in the face and body after surrendering when. Not get the medical treatment or benefits that Wagner boasted it lavishes on recruits! The television suddenly switched to Russian programs to people who escaped, knowing that person... Wagner fighter outside St. Petersburg in December three former POWs, survivors, in Kyiv, Ukraine three.... Happened when some of them reached the end of their original sentences identified. Suddenly switched to Russian programs a lucky returnee said roughly 120 inmates signed up were... That prisoners recently captured by Ukrainian soldiers ordered forward pre-deployment by dancing at a training camp near the Ukrainian. Have died during such attacks in April this year this month at the camp in western Ukraine Russia according! Army, but would fight if he is not ready to volunteer for the decision and CNN can not confirm. Camp in western Ukraine prisoners of war at the detention center canteen month!
We have launched English Twitter! Detainees watching Ukrainian television news this month at the camp in western Ukraine. They described a sophisticated system of incentives and brutality built by Wagner, with the Kremlins support, to refill Russias decimated military ranks using questionable, and possibly illegal, methods. Which U.S. cities have the lowest and highest property taxes? From left, Anatoly Korin, Ruslan Osadchiy and Aidana Fedosik in Tbilisi, Georgia, last month. The body stops moving. They brought us to a basement, divided us into five-person groups and, though we hadnt been trained, told us to run ahead, as far as we could go, he said of his commanders. Just this morning alone, we got reports of 600 prisoners being transported from Nizhny Novgorod.. A man thought to be Yevgeny Prigozhin addressing inmates at a Russian prison. Sign up for notifications from Insider! One woman, Irina, said her husband, who was in jail in Nizhny Novgorod, had told her two weeks ago that he was departing for Ukraine the next day. Like most Ukrainians, the speed of Russias initial advance in the south of the country had caught them by surprise. Natalia Yermak contributed reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Alina Lobzina from London. On arriving at the border, some of them received a slip of paper from the Latvian immigration authorities that read, in Ukrainian: At these tough times, the Latvian Republic and its people are ready to accept with open heart the citizens of Ukraine.. Whatever the eventual impact on the war, the extraordinary footage of Prigozhin recruiting prisoners has already been described by observers as one of the defining, grim images of Putins presidency. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. One, also a prisoner, said Sevalnev had been wounded once but sent back to fight on the frontline, where he was then wounded again. It was not possible to verify if the man in the video was Prigozhin, but his company Concord did not deny it was him. A convict, who had been in jail for armed robbery and assault, he was sent from prison to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Source: Ukrinform with reference to Dmytro Lubinets, Verkhovna WebCNN has geolocated a recent video that appears to show the execution of a Russian prisoner by Ukrainian forces following recent fighting in the Kyiv region. The Kherson prisoners ordeal began a week after Russias invasion of Ukraine last February. A senior US military official told reporters Monday that prisoners and other recently mobilized troops were being used by Russia to "take the brunt" of Ukrainian fire on the front lines to clear a path for "better-trained forces" amid heavy fighting in Ukraine's east. Yet a friend described his "zombie-like" appearance, heavy drinking and urgent desire to return to the front. But I wanted to double check the date of this of this video, because you should understand one thing now (or) you will not understand it. Updated By Anatoly Kurmanaev,Ekaterina Bodyagina and Ivan Nechepurenko. No more than 5 people know counteroffensive plan of Armed Forces of Ukraine Ukraine's Defence Council Secretary, Ukraine's Defence Ministry explains what they meant by saying situation in Bakhmut was "under control", Putin admits that Armed Forces of Ukraine cause losses of Russian army, Macron urges China to convince Russia to stop the war in Ukraine during state visit to Beijing, Three Russian MiG jets leave Belarus for Russia, Journalists find house of Russian-linked church's Metropolitan measuring 580 square metres, Ukraine orders more Rosomak armoured vehicles from Poland than previously announced, Russia has critical missile shortage Ukraine's Defence Council Secretary, Russia hit residential building in centre of Orikhiv and attacked Huliaipole with missiles, Xi tells Macron about his readiness to "work hard" for peace in Ukraine, UOC-MP priest who molested his own daughters detained Prosecutor's Office, Ukrainian war drama film Butterfly Vision released, China's leader to talk to Zelenskyy "when conditions are right" von der Leyen, Russia has not removed killing of Zelenskyy from agenda Ukraine's Defence CouncilSecretary, Xi Jinping did not change his mind on Russian war following talks with Macron. He was convicted of killing an unarmed civilian. He said: What could such an army even accomplish in combat?. Russia Freed Prisoners to Fight Its War. WebFrom Olga Voitovych.

A private named Aleksandr, 44, who shaved three years off a sentence for illegal logging by enlisting with Wagner, said that before deploying to the front he was told he would be shot if he disobeyed orders to advance.

WebWhen Russian troops left Kherson, they took with them 2,500 Ukrainian convicts from local prisons. "Our batch was 130 people, but we also have many amputees, and we probably have 40 people left", he added, saying many different groups of prisoners were added to their unit over time. Wagner's recruitment has also snared prisoners who are not Russian, and may not have been convicted of a crime. To lift declining recruitment numbers, Wagner has lately been playing up the rewards for survivors, releasing videos of returned prisoners being granted freedom. He wasn't a scamp, but was a very religious person." A Russian military vehicle marked with the "V" sign is seen in the video, filmed in Ukraine's Kyiv region. But he warned that few would come back.. Someone off camera says, Slava Ukrayini! glory to Ukraine, a patriotic greeting, and a bearded man steps in the frame and replies, Glory the heroes, the standard reply. The others were armed with only assault rifles and hand grenades. Thus, the issue of regulating their status in the future arises. Twelve Ukrainian prisoners have been returned home from captivity 10 military and two civilians, Ukraine says. We met three former POWs, survivors, in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. Talking to people who escaped, knowing that that person you know was raped four days in a row. "That is precisely why I cannot say anything about these decrees. A warden kept watch this month over prisoners of war at a camp in western Ukraine. His family in Tanzania told CNN they heard nothing of his fate until they were contacted by officials to say he had died. He has since escaped to Norway and applied for political asylum. He bemoaned how their convicts did not get the medical treatment or benefits that Wagner boasted it lavishes on its recruits. Some held documents suggesting they were ultimately deployed to an element of the Luhansk separatist army, which has been suborned into the Russian defense ministry. What do you want to do with it?. CNN spoke to several prisoners who worked for a unit known by its number "08807" -- who all say they were employed directly by the Russian Ministry of Defense. A Ukrainian intelligence official confirmed to CNN that prisoners recently captured by Ukrainian forces had said they were directly employed by the ministry. The convicts were pleasantly surprised when Russian guards came to escort them out of jail when their sentences expired. 2023 Cable News Network. Lining up for bread distribution in Kherson in November, a few days after the city was liberated by Ukrainian soldiers. ". When Russian troops left Kherson, they took with them 2,500 Ukrainian convicts from local prisons. "They understand that he commands a huge gang -- an organized criminal group of mercenaries and killers -- who at any moment can arrange the god knows what in Moscow.". Ukrainian POWs have said that they were frequently subjected to prolonged beatings, threats, electric shocks and dog attacks. His cousin, Rehema Makrene Kigoga, looks at a picture of him on her phone. They say they were directly employed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Half an hour later, he and the others were ordered to report to the prisons main square where two heavily guarded men were waiting. Yes, they have heavy losses. According to Romanovas estimate, about 11,000 Russian prisoners have already signed up to go to Ukraine, a number that she said was growing rapidly. NOW WATCH: VIDEO: Why Russia's military is failing so far in Ukraine, Captured members of a Russian mercenary group say. They watched Russian armored columns roll into the city over River Dnipro on the television sets in their cells. Military experts have posed questions about the likely impact of poorly disciplined and badly trained Russian prisoners on the war. And they killed him. 20002023, Ukrainska Pravda. "And thousands of their people were lost: The whole land near Soledar is covered with the corpses of the occupiers and scars from the strikes. Moscow The first group of Russian prisoners offered an amnesty in return for fighting in Ukraine has been released, the head of a mercenary group that employed them said in a video published on Thursday. I needed your criminal talents to kill the enemy in the war, Mr. Prigozhin said in one video. But nothing underscored their haphazard treatment better than what happened when some of them reached the end of their original sentences. The video first verified by the New York Times shows a group of soldiers with Ukrainian patches and blue arm bands on a road following a firefight. Her group has now focused its attention on helping families dissuade prisoners from signing up. In an effort to address issues around dwindling personnel, the Wagner Group has fought alongside the Russian military and has recruited Russian prisoners in the process. WebExclusive: Russian convicts say defense ministry is sending them from jail to fight as 'cannon fodder' in Ukraine By CNN's Nick Paton Walsh , Darya Tarasova and Jo WebBy Anatoly Kurmanaev , Alina Lobzina and Ekaterina Bodyagina. Ukrainian officials acknowledged that prisoners some of whom had been convicted of murder, kidnapping and rape were largely forgotten in the chaos of the Ukrainian retreat. Those who ran away, used drugs or alcohol or had sexual relations, he warned, would be killed.
One prisoner from the Mariupol pre-trial detention centre was also reportedly killed. Overall, Ukrainian officials estimate that Russian forces forcibly took about 3,500 imprisoned Ukrainian citizens to Russia, including 2,500 from Kherson, as they retreated from some occupied territory last year. But there are some things which we simply cant understand..

WebIn interviews last week, half a dozen prisoners of war provided rare firsthand accounts of what it is like to be part of a sacrificial Russian assault. 2.

An inmate at prison colony No 2, in Russias isolated northern Komi region, described a similar visit by Prigozhin in mid-July. Any questions, guys?"

While some recruited prisoners may desert or disobey orders, others "are just fucked up and bulldoze their way through," Drozdov said, adding that these fighters "are very different from ordinary mercenaries.". Anyone can read what you share. "Don't drink a lot, don't use drugs, don't rape women, do not get up to no good," Prigozhin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, could be heard telling them. I cant even begin to imagine what disciplinary problems prisoners will bring., On Tuesday, the opposition leader Alexei Navalny, himself behind bars, tweeted that Russian prisons were full of people with big problems with discipline and even bigger problems with alcohol and substances. Common causes and when you should seek care. Face to the ground, dont look, dont speak, and blows, blows, blows.. But according to our reports, there are definitely at least 2,500 Ukrainians citizens who were imprisoned on the now occupied territories of Ukraine who were then taken to the territory of Russia.". One recent day, at a base in a pine forest, new Azov recruits marched, stood at attention and As shelling grew nearer, occupation authorities moved the inmates from Khersons four prisons to one facility farther from the fighting. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Sergei, sat, shoulders slumped, on the sofa in the wardens office of the Ukrainian detention center. These orders were common, so our losses were gigantic, Sergei said. I started to think things over in a big way, he said. But a pardon for eight years is valuable..

WebRussian prisoners sent to the front lines in Ukraine have been publicly executed for not charging into enemy fire, captured inmates say.

Usov said the ministry had fewer convicts for now but they "will be used in the same way as cannon fodder," as Wagner does.

What he found there, he said, was very different from the patriotic band of brothers he had been led to expect. The prisoners are identified only by first name and rank for security reasons, because of the possibility of retribution once they are returned. This video shows Russian soldiers being interrogated. The Kremlins reliance on unorthodox methods to keep the fighting going in Ukraine is worrying for Russia, according to Lee. Hes still alive, says one man, in Russian. They couldnt understand that we are foreign people who dont have anything to do with the Russian Federation.. Russian POWs, held by Ukraine, told interviewers of summary executions and several cases of torture and ill-treatment, mostly when they were captured, first interrogated, or moved to transit camps and places of internment. Prisoners of war on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine have told UN human rights investigators that they have been subjected to torture and ill Some come here, hear the machine gun, and run.

Asked about the video at a NATO press conference in Brussels, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said, I havent seen it. Olga Maltseva/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. Thousands of convicts have been killed, many within days or even hours of arriving at the front, Russian rights advocates and Ukrainian officials say. "You've worked through your contract. Sergei said he had worked as a cellphonetower technician in a far-northern Siberian city, living with his wife and three children. Remember this: do not send more people here. In the early phases of thewar, the Russian Army had copious armored vehicles, artillery and other heavy weaponry but relatively few soldiers on the battlefield. Can we corroborate the information? The higher-up is killed if his team deserts.

I can really confirm that the entire procedure for pardoning prisoners is carried out in strict accordance with Russian law.". In interviews last week, half a dozen prisoners of war provided rare firsthand accounts of what it is like to be part ofa sacrificial Russian assault. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Grainy footage obtained by Gulagu.net shows Sevalnev and his unit celebrating pre-deployment by dancing at a camp inside of Luhansk. Prigozhin, whose photo now appears on Wagner posters, commented on the footage by criticising those who opposed the recruitment of prisoners. But they could also serve as a template for wider fighting. We all compare it to Russian roulette. I wish Prigozhin never came.. Most of the enlisted men were serving time for petty crimes like robbery and theft, but records from one penal colony seen by The New York Times show that the recruits also included men convicted of aggravated rape and multiple murders. Ivan declined the job offer but he said roughly 120 inmates signed up and were now fighting in Ukraine after a one-week training course. "People walk around [the hospital] with bullet wounds, with shrapnel stuck in their legs.". Inmates said Prigozhin appeared comfortable inside the walls of Russias notorious prisons. said the man. The Guardian was unable to verify all the details of the inmates accounts, but their stories corroborated earlier reports by the Russian investigative outlets Important Stories and Meduza.

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