'Massive mobilization resource': military expert reveals number of convicts in Russia

He shared this information on Espreso TV.

“Back during Prigozhin’s mutiny, Russian dictator Putin signed a decree allowing convicts to directly sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry. Putin’s latest decree has extended this practice, specifically allowing inmates to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry directly in the courtroom. This means that Russia has expanded its hidden mobilization capabilities,” Sniehyrov explained.

The expert noted that the mobilization of convicts solves several problems for Russian security services.

“There are also pitfalls in mobilizing convicts in Russia. The Russian government has canceled payments for them at the time of signing a contract with the Defense Ministry, which was previously one of the main incentives for them to go to war. At the same time, according to FSIN (Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service), over 500,000 people are held in Russian prisons. This makes for a significant mobilization reserve that the terrorist state will utilize. Additionally, Russian security services will address several issues simultaneously.

First, they will reduce the financial burden on FSIN.

Second, they will ease overcrowding in Russian penal colonies and decrease crime rates both on Russian streets and within prisons.

Third, they will essentially dispose of criminals at the hands of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. This is a tactic used by Stalin-era security services, and it is now being actively implemented under Putin,” he added.

• On January 2, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported that, as of November 2024, Russia had recruited between 140,000 and 180,000 convicts to participate in the war against Ukraine.