Russian Parliament Approves Military Recruitment of Criminals for Ukraine Conflict

A draft law has been submitted to the Russian parliament that would allow the military to recruit prisoners for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The law would release those who sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry or are drafted from criminal liability, even if they committed a crime before the law's enactment. The law is expected to exclude those convicted of violent crimes like murder or rape. The authors believe that bringing criminals to the front "will contribute to achieving the goals of punishment and provide additional opportunities for manning the army."