Uproar over prisoner recruitment: "Putin's cook" speaks meaningfully - "Prisoners or your children"

Created: 09/16/2022, 16:20

By: Patrick Freiwah

Yevgeny Prigozhin photographed in Moscow in March 2017.

(Archive photo) © imago stock & people / Imago Images

In the Ukraine war, Russia is apparently recruiting prisoners as troop reinforcements.

The head of the Wagner group is the focus – and expresses himself in a remarkable way.

Moscow - Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman who became known as "Putin's cook", has defended the use of Russian prisoners in the Ukraine war.

Russian media reports on the statement of the man loyal to the Kremlin, who apparently recruits soldiers in prisons:

Those who do not want private military companies and prisoners to be used in the conflict should send their own children to the front, the media quoted Prigozhin - who is also considered the financier of the mercenary group "Wagner".

"Either private military companies and prisoners or your children - decide for yourself," said the 61-year-old.

Russia recruits prisoners as soldiers: Video allegedly shows Prigozhin

The oligarch Prigozhin, who is close to the Kremlin, is reacting to the publication of a video that is supposed to show him recruiting prisoners in a prison.

The picture was allegedly taken in a prison in the city of Yoshkar-Ola, about 760 kilometers east of Moscow.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and other media disseminated the video, in which a man who looked like Prigozhin promised the prisoners pardon and freedom.

Is the man really Prigozhin, a close friend of Putin?

Not clear.

His company only let the state agency Ria Novosti know that the man in the video was "damn similar" to Prigozhin - and at the same time a good speaker.

There are also rumors that Prigozhin may have been chosen as the new “savior” following the recent failure of Russian troops in Kharkiv.

Russia: Criminals can pay “debt to homeland” in Ukraine

Criminals from Russia's prisons could use the combat mission to pay off their "debt to their homeland," Prigozhin himself explained. Reports have been circulating in the country for weeks that he is recruiting prisoners in prison camps for the conflict in Ukraine - possibly due to a shortage of personnel at the front .

In addition, the speaker emphasizes in the clip that not all of the convicted criminals will survive the military operation in the neighboring country.

For example, out of 40 repeat offenders recruited in St. Petersburg, three died a "hero's death" for the Russian army.

Entrepreneur Prigozhin is considered to be the financier of the Russian mercenary group "Wagner", which is internationally active in war zones such as Syria, Mali and Libya.

Which also suggests that the man in the video is the 61-year-old: Surrounded by numerous prisoners, the speaker explains that he is "a representative of the Wagner group".

He also tells the potential Putin soldiers about the assignment in the neighboring country: "The war is hard and doesn't even remotely resemble the Chechnya war or other wars."

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Russia recruits prisoners for Ukraine war: "No alcohol, no women"

The following information is available on the requirements for Russian recruits: The minimum age of the prisoners is 22 years, younger ones require the consent of relatives.

The maximum age for recruits is 50 years, with one exception: Anyone who is strong and powerful can also join the Russian army.

There is also an "interview" with exercises and tests with regard to the mental state.

In addition, there are probably strict guidelines for the prisoners who are ready to fight: According to reports, anyone who wants to join the Wagner troupe is not allowed to drink alcohol or take drugs during the war.

Looting and "sexual contact with local women" are also prohibited.

What would weigh just as heavily is a "desertion": "No one withdraws and no one surrenders," quotes the Swiss newspaper

.

Then, in the worst case, there is a risk of being shot.

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Ukraine war with Russian prisoners?

Kremlin critic warns of executions

There are also critical voices in Russia when it comes to the recruitment of convicted criminals: Ultranationalist Igor Strelkov recently supported this step in principle: Soldiers were said to have been recruited in this way in ancient Rome as well as in Soviet, British and French troops.

However, the Russian noted in a message to Telegram that the criminals were not sufficiently obedient.

According to the rebel leader, discipline can be imposed on criminals with draconian punishments.

Without draconian punishments, lawlessness would increase and Russia would lose control of hundreds of criminals.

The Kremlin critic warns that mass disobedience and armed uprisings must also be expected.

As Strelkov points out, commanders would then have to carry out "extrajudicial executions", which would only be possible under "martial law".

However, this would also result in "killing the same commanders", causing more units to be lost.

Meanwhile, given the level of escalation, concerns about Russian nuclear weapons are smoldering.

According to military experts, there is currently no threat of a nuclear strike.

But not everyone gave the all-clear.