Russia approves army recruitment of pardoned criminals for Ukraine conflict.

The State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, has given initial approval to legislation that would allow the Defence Ministry to sign contracts with suspected or convicted criminals to fight in Ukraine. The proposed changes would allow contracts to be signed with individuals being investigated for committing a crime, having their case heard in court, or after being convicted but before the verdict takes legal effect. Those convicted of sexual crimes, treason, terrorism, or extremism would not be eligible. The Wagner mercenary group was previously allowed to recruit convicts from prisons to fight in Ukraine but said in February it had stopped.