Russia expands recruitment of convicts for war

Russia is reportedly planning to broaden the criteria for recruiting individuals with criminal records into its armed forces, specifically for deployment in the war against Ukraine. A legislative package has been submitted to the State Duma that would expand the list of offenses for which a criminal record would no longer be a barrier to signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense.

This initiative follows a policy implemented in November 2022, which already permits the mobilization of convicted individuals, including those serving sentences for severe crimes such as murder, robbery, armed robbery, and drug trafficking. The expansion suggests an ongoing effort to bolster troop numbers for the protracted conflict.

The information comes from the analytical center Militarnyi, which cited The Moscow Times. The proposed changes indicate a strategic move by the Russian government to tap into a wider pool of potential recruits, potentially including those previously deemed ineligible due to their criminal past.