Russia recruits female prisoners as assault troops, snipers – report
The Russian Defense Ministry has begun recruiting female prisoners to fight in the war against Ukraine, independent Russian outlet iStories reported on Feb. 19.
Recruiters have reportedly targeted inmates in Correctional Colony No. 2 in Ulyanovka, Leningrad Oblast, the report says.
Russian MoD officials visited the prison multiple times since last fall, offering women one-year contracts as snipers and assault troops with the promise of a pardon after completing the contract term, former inmates told the journalists.
The training period was set to two months. Between 20 and 50 inmates reportedly accepted the offer, although none have been taken from the facility as of the report.
One inmate agreed to become a sniper but reconsidered after an approximate three-month wait, realizing her remaining sentence was under a year.
The report marks the first noted instance of Russian officials recruiting female prisoners for combat duty.
A summary by the UK Defense Intelligence from Oct. 30, 2023, noted Russia's efforts to enlist women in the Redut private military company for the war in Ukraine.
Read also: Russia releases mostly convicts in prisoner exchange — video
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