Russia plans to recruit women from prisons as troop shortages deepen
Russia will mobilize women from prisons (photo: Getty Images)
Russian leadership has given the green light to mobilize or recruit Russian women serving prison sentences under military contracts, according to Ukrainian intelligence data published on the official website of the president.
"The Russian leadership has also approved extending mobilization and/or contract recruitment to certain sizable categories of women serving sentences in prisons and penal camps," intelligence agencies found.
It is noted that Russia is working on plans for an additional wave of mobilization in 2026–2027. It expects to recruit 300,000 people into the military this year and another 300,000 next year.
The categories of convicts whom Russia plans to recruit for military service have been expanded to include people with unexpunged or outstanding convictions under 11 articles of the Russian Criminal Code.
These include, in particular, smuggling poisonous, radioactive and explosive substances, weapons, drugs, and other items; banditry; organizing or participating in a criminal group; organizing illegal migration; violating security requirements at fuel and energy facilities; as well as the illegal handling, theft or extortion of nuclear materials or radioactive substances.
Russia is facing a critical shortage of military personnel, so Russian recruiters are "luring" students, allegedly into drone units.
Covert mobilization is also spreading in Russia. Moscow is finding it increasingly difficult to find people willing to go to the front, so pressure on potential contract soldiers is increasing.
