"Significant" Ukraine losses for Putin?

Secret service reports mercenary recruitment in prison

Created: 07/12/2022Updated: 07/12/2022 13:30

Photo from the end of February 2022: Russian soldiers (archive/symbol photo) © Sergei Malgavko/TASS/dpa

The losses of the Russian troops in the Ukraine war are apparently high - and the mercenary group Wagner is supposed to offer a solution.

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• Secret service

  for the

  Ukraine war

  : Moscow probably recruits mercenaries from prisons.

• Counter-offensive

  in

  Kherson

  : Kiev reports 52 Russian soldiers killed.

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Moscow/London - British intelligence experts believe it is possible that Russia is hiring fighters for the Wagner mercenary group in prisons.

"Staff shortages in the Russian armed forces could force the Russian MoD to resort to unconventional recruitment methods," said the British MoD's daily intelligence update.

Secret service on the Ukraine war: Moscow is probably recruiting mercenaries from prisons

The Ukrainian secret service had already announced that Russia was recruiting prisoners for private military companies.

Now the British secret service is also reporting on it.

"If true, this move likely indicates difficulties in replacing the significant Russian losses," it said.

An ex-Wagner mercenary recently published a book about Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin's "shadow army".

Counter-offensive in Cherson: Kyiv reports 52 killed Russian soldiers

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces say they killed 52 Russian soldiers in attacks in the Kherson region.

Artillery, armored vehicles and "a warehouse with ammunition" were also destroyed, said the command responsible for southern Ukraine.

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This information could not initially be verified independently.

The Kherson region is largely controlled by the Russian invading forces.

The region borders the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.