From trial to the trenches How the Russian authorities keep finding new ways to trick prisoners into going to war
The widespread use of inmates in combat — by Russia, and more recently by Ukraine — has emerged as a defining feature of the ongoing war. In Russia, the recruitment of people facing criminal charges is gaining momentum, aided by new legal amendments that allow contracts to be signed at nearly any stage of prosecution, from pre-trial detention to ongoing court cases. Meduza spoke with lawyers in the country to understand how inmates are persuaded to enlist and why they choose to sign these contracts.
For over two years, the Russian authorities have been recruiting prisoners from correctional facilities and pre-trial detention centers to fight on the front lines in Ukraine. While the exact number of enlistees is unknown, lawyers interviewed by Meduza report that the recruitment process is accelerating. Prisoners can now be sent to the front at virtually any stage of criminal prosecution. According to one lawyer, offers are being made indiscriminately, even to those charged with terrorism, treason, or sexual violence against children — groups that were previously disqualified from enlisting.
In many cases, anti-war actions are labeled as terrorism, leading to situations where individuals are pressured to fight in a war for the “crime” of opposing it. Timofey, a lawyer from Russia’s Southern Federal District, shared the story of a client who, after being charged with terrorism for setting fire to a military recruitment office, was offered the chance to enlist:
My client laughed at the absurdity of it. He’d been jailed for targeting a recruitment office, and now they’re asking him to go fight. He was baffled, saying, “Good God, don’t you see how ridiculous this is?!” But the investigators didn’t care — they had orders, and they followed them.
Another prisoner who wanted to enlist was initially rejected due to his tattoos. “He was convicted of participating in a brutal group murder, but there was a catch — he was covered in tattoos with Nazi symbols,” his lawyer Alexander told Meduza. “He was turned down several times and even asked me if there was anything I could do to help him sign up for the ‘special military operation.’ Eventually, it seems the pool of willing recruits dried up, and despite his tattoos, he was allowed to sign a contract and was sent to the front.”
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For prisoners, the appeal of these contracts lies in the promise of early release and the chance to return home. Recruiters emphasize the benefits but tend to omit a critical detail: the contracts are binding until the war ends. Many prisoners aren’t given the opportunity to consult with a lawyer before signing and don’t fully understand what they’re agreeing to. “Even now, many don’t realize the contracts are indefinite and that awards only grant immunity from prosecution, not termination of the contract,” one lawyer told Meduza.
Lawyers can warn clients about the risks and clarify the terms, but discouraging them from signing is often difficult — and potentially dangerous. Saying anything negative can result in charges for “discrediting” the army. However, Timofey noted that some lawyers see these contracts as a viable option for their clients.
“In chat groups, some lawyers were openly proud, especially early on, saying things like, ‘Look, this is how we got someone out of criminal charges — and not just one person!’” Timofey recalled. “Instead of people responding with, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ they’d say, ‘Oh, interesting, tell us more.’”
Opinions differ on how long the recruitment drive will last. Alexander believes authorities are now “scraping the bottom of the barrel,” targeting prisoners who initially refused to enlist. A lawyer from eastern Russia agreed, saying: “It seems like this is happening less often now. People are starting to realize these contracts are essentially lifetime commitments, and the large-scale pardons once granted to Wagner Group mercenaries are no longer on the table.” At the same time, other lawyers argue that “the pool of potential recruits in prisons and pre-trial detention centers is constantly being replenished,” and that “there’s still room to further expand recruitment efforts.”
