October 15, 2023

A Rough Draft


A Rough Draft
A Russian prison. Stanislav Kozlovskiy, Wikimedia Commons

The Russian Ministry of Defense recently submitted a proposal that would allow the military to conscript persons directly from prison into the armed forces. The new regulation would amend an existing rule that outlaws the practice.

Currently, prisoners are exempt from the widespread conscription and mobilization that have impacted many Russians. However, many Russian inmates have been offered jobs, money, and freedom in exchange for their military service in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Prisoners have had to sign contracts before signing up, giving their consent to be sent to the front lines.

Under the Ministry's proposal, though, prisoners would no longer be exempt and could instead be drafted directly from prison.

While the proposal has yet to take effect, it belies a possible shortage in troops due to deadly conditions.

As Russia's War on Ukraine drags on, Russia's Ministry of Defense has taken to creative measures to attract more manpower for the front lines. An entire industry has grown up around troop recruitment, and not even those living outside Russia are safe.

 

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