Moscow broadens prison draft to reinforce forces in Ukraine
The Kremlin is expanding its prison recruitment pipelines to reinforce frontline forces in Ukraine. A new package of bills submitted to the State Duma broadens the categories of convicts eligible for military service.
If adopted, the law will allow the Ministry of Defense to sign contracts with individuals convicted of organized crime, cash smuggling, and trafficking strategic goods. Those charged with mishandling nuclear materials, organizing illegal migration, or losing state secrets will also become eligible for deployment.
Moscow began recruiting inmates during the initial months of the 2022 full-scale invasion, later shifting to formal legislative amendments to sustain the practice.
Since November 2022, Russian law has permitted the mobilization of individuals convicted of most felony offenses, including murder, robbery, and drug trafficking.
By June 2023, the State Duma authorized military contracts for convicts and pre-trial detainees. Subsequent amendments extended this mechanism to defendants whose trials are actively ongoing.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
