Support our war crimes investigations unit Support
Skip to content

News Feed

Want to partner with the Kyiv Independent?
Contact the Tellers Agency to connect your brand with independent media.
Contact
Ukraine Daily
News from
Ukraine in your
inbox
12:11 PM
Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk went to Turkey and met with Azovstal defenders who have been freed from Russian capture and are now under the protection of the Turkish government, the press service of Verkhovna Rada reported on June 4.
MORE NEWS

watch us on facebook

Edit post

British Intelligence: Wagner loses troops as group's convicts to be pardoned, released

by The Kyiv Independent news desk March 21, 2023 11:41 AM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Thousands of Russian convicts who were recruited by the Wagner mercenary group are likely to be released, the U.K. Defense Military reported in its March 21 update.

The convicts were recruited by the Russian-controlled private military contractor to join the war against Ukraine with the promise of being pardoned and released if they survived half a year on the front. Approximately half of the total convicts have been killed or wounded, the U.K. Defense Ministry writes.

However, the defense ministry believes that Wagner is following through on its promises to grant the survivors freedom.

According to the defense ministry, Wagner is "likely banned" by Russian authorities from taking on more prisoners in the future, after a recent public conflict between Wagner and Russia's Defense Ministry. The recruitment of prisoners reached its peak in the autumn of 2022.

With a large number of convicts reintegrating into Russian society, including those with a history of violent offenses, the U.K. Defense Ministry anticipates a "significant challenge" for Russian society in the future.

Ukraine war latest: Xi's Moscow visit 'diplomatic cover' for Russian war crimes, says Blinken
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.
Freedom can be costly. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price for their independence. Support independent journalism in its darkest hour. Support from as little as $1, and it only takes a minute.
visa masterCard americanExpress

Editors' Picks

Support us

Enter your email to subscribe

Please, enter correct email address

Subscribe

* indicates required
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.