Russia and Ukraine Look to Prisons for Manpower

Both Russia and Ukraine now offer prisoners a chance at freedom in exchange for military service (The Organization for World Peace).

As the Russo-Ukraine War front has solidified, both sides are looking for more manpower. They have during the latter part of 2024 turned to a free source of manpower: prisoners.  

Ukraine drew upon its imprisoned population when expanding their draft in July and August, and their recruitment of prisoners hit its highest levels from September to October. Ukraine has already released more than 3000 prisoners on parole who have voluntarily joined the army after the parliament approved such recruitment in June, according to Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Olena Vysotska. In addition, Vysotaska mentioned that approximately 27,000 more inmates are potentially eligible for the recruitment program. According to Vystoska, much of the inmates’ motivation to join the army is to return home as heroes, not criminals. However, Ukraine must still convert their convict recruits into fighting forces, sure to bea challenge given their lack of training.

On the other side, after the mystery-shrouded death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the government-orchestrated dissolution of his mercenary group, Wagner, the Russian military has undergone increasing strain.  As a result, the Russian military has increased its rate of prison-recruiting to fill the gap. According to Newsweek, the Russian government has launched a project called “Storm-Z,” a penal military unit whose participants are recruited from the prison. According to the Russian government, not only are the Storm-Z members paid “lavishly,” but they can also return home after the war. However, members of the Russian military think differently. One Russian soldier who fought alongside Storm-Z members said that military command dispatched them to break the most complicated sections of Ukrainian defenses. “They are just meat in a grinder,” the soldier told Reuters. 

In addition to a pathway to freedom, the Russian government also issued immunity from prosecution to criminal defendants who joined the army. The Russian Supreme Court has approved a law allowing that exact process. The law has the potential to funnel 24,000 more Russian prisoners to the front line of a conflict that has already inflicted heavy human casualties on both sides.