Russian authorities are offering criminal suspects the opportunity to drop charges if they agree to fight in Ukraine as Vladimir Putin tries to replenish troop losses along the front lines, new reports show.
Under laws signed by the Russian president in June 2023, convicts were eligible for a pardon or for the remainder of their sentences to be expunged if they had volunteered to join the Kremlin’s war machine.
That move came as part of a desperate attempt to plug the losses left by the infamous Wagner mercenary group that had launched recruitment drives in penal colonies in 2022 but was later denied entry as the Ministry of Defense changed the tactic to the actual Russian army wanted to use.
However, this new practice, which was formalized through legislation in March 2024, allows those accused of crimes to avoid prosecution by agreeing to serve on the front lines before being sentenced.
Both the prosecution and defense are now required to inform suspects of this option, with criminal cases suspended if they sign up.
It comes as Ukrainian intelligence officials said thousands of troops from North Korea will arrive in Russia’s Kursk frontline today to fight for Putin.
Russian prisoners are filmed as they are recruited by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to fight in Ukraine in September 2022
Russia has long resorted to recruiting prisoners from penal colonies (pictured) to fight in Ukraine – but now suspects not convicted of a crime can choose to sign a military contract and avoid court
“The video clearly shows that North Korean citizens are given Russian uniforms under the direction of the Russian military,” said Ihor Solovey, head of the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security.
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meet in Pyongyang, June 19, 2024
Russian authorities’ attempts to divert criminal suspects to their military apparatus were exposed in a joint investigation between Russian authorities BBC and Russian independent outlet Mediazona.
They initially received a leaked recording of a Russian investigator telling the husband of a man facing a possible six-year prison sentence that “we will close the case” if her husband signed a military contract.
“We are seeing an unprecedented shift in the justice system,” Olga Romanova, director of the NGO Russia Behind Bars, told the BBC.
‘The police can now arrest a man over the body of someone he just killed. They put on the handcuffs and then the killer says, “Oh wait, I want to conduct a special military operation,” and they close the criminal case.”
Several lawyers have confirmed in confidence that the practice is now widespread – so much so that former Olympic gold medalists have been encouraged to make such a deal.
Andrej Perlov, 62, has been in custody for more than six months on charges of embezzling 3 million rubles (25,000 euros) from a football club.
His family denies the allegations and says Perlov, who won gold in the 50km walk at the 1992 Barcelona Games, is being pressured to sign up for military service in Ukraine in exchange for his case will be frozen after the war and possibly dismissed.
When he refused, he was jailed and banned from seeing family members, they claim.
Images show North Korean troops in Russia before being deployed to Ukraine
A video has emerged showing North Korean soldiers in Russia
File photo of North Korean soldiers marching during a massive military parade in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung
Analysts suspect that this move is one of several options being pursued by Putin and Russian authorities to avoid resorting to more conscription and risking turning popular opinion against the war in Ukraine.
To this end, Putin is also said to have agreed with Kim Jong Un that a contingent of North Korean troops would be organized into a special unit to fight alongside the Russians on the front lines.
Russia’s Kursk region remains partially occupied by Ukrainian forces who launched a lightning offensive there earlier this year.
Kim Jong Un’s forces are expected to be deployed alongside Russian units to reclaim the territory.
“We expect the first units in the direction of Kursk,” said Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
It is still unclear how many will be deployed and how they will be equipped, but Budanov said he expected around 2,600 troops from Pyongyang to arrive in Kursk.
“We will see in a few days,” GUR chief Lieutenant General Budanov told the American website The War Zone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his people in his daily TV broadcast that thousands of North Koreans are being prepared for deployment in Putin’s war.
Videos from Russia’s Far East appear to show Kim’s soldiers receiving equipment and training, but there has been no confirmation from the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at a press conference today: “There is evidence that there are North Korean forces in Russia,” using North Korea’s formal name: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
‘What exactly are they doing? Seen on the left. These are things we need to take care of,” Austin added.
A rescue worker searches for survivors in the aftermath of a Russian attack in Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Troops march in a parade to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s founding day in Pyongyang
North Korea will practice artillery exercises at a secret location in March
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his sister Kim Yo Jong attend a meeting in 2018
In a new video, a voice can be heard saying, “The handsome allied soldiers from North Korea have arrived.
“I hope the war will end now.”
Zelenskiy said: “We have information about the preparation of two units of military personnel from North Korea.
“Maybe even two brigades of 6,000 men, and that is a challenge.”
North Korea calls reports that it has sent troops to Russia nothing more than “substantiated rumors.”
But South Korean intelligence claims they are being issued fake military IDs to give the impression they are residents of the Siberian regions of Yakutia and Buryatia.
It comes as North Korean ruler Kim Yo Jong’s sister called Ukrainians “bad dogs” and “crazies” in a tirade against Kiev.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the United States is “very close” to finalizing a $20 billion payment to Ukraine, which would be paid with proceeds from frozen Russian assets, Politico reported.
Zelensky also hinted that there are possibilities to scale back the war and end the “hot phase”, which would usher in peace talks.
“A decision could be made on energy security,” he said.
‘In other words, we don’t attack their energy infrastructure, they don’t attack ours. Could this lead to the end of the hot phase of the war? I think so.’