As early as July, there were reports that the infamous Wagner group was recruiting prisoners in Russian prison camps for the war against Ukraine. A video has now surfaced in which businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is also believed to be the financier of the Wagner mercenary group, addresses prisoners (see tweets below).
Prigozhin explains to the prisoners that he is a representative of a private military company. “You have probably already heard of PMC Wagner (another name of the Wagner group, ed.). This war is difficult, not like the war in Afghanistan or the Chechen war,” the 61-year-old warned, then explained the rules to the volunteers: no desertion, no alcohol or drugs during the fighting, no looting and no sexual abuse of the civilian population. Capitulation and going into captivity is according to Prigozhin. also not allowed
Amnesty after six months of combat use
Volunteers must be at least 22 years old, but not older than 50 years. Younger men should bring a confirmation from family members stating that they were not against use in combat. A good physical condition is a must, continues Prigozhin. The 61-year-old promises the prisoners that there will be an amnesty after six months, regardless of the remaining sentence.
“No one goes behind bars anymore. If you serve six months (in the Russian army, ed.), you are free. If you arrive in Ukraine and decide it’s not for you, we’ll execute you,” Prigozhin, also known as “Putin’s cook,” was “quote” to the men in the detention center.
“This ‘dirty dozen’ approach to soldier recruitment is a harbinger of more failures on the battlefield,” wrote the retired US lieutenant general, who commanded the 28,000-strong task force in northern Iraq from 2007-2009. , on Twitter.
Prigozhin knows Russian prisons from his own experience: in the 1980s he himself served sentences for theft, fraud and prostitution of minors. He later founded a catering company that also supplies the Kremlin and the Russian military, hence his nickname “Putin’s Chef”.
Mercenary group is considered Putin’s shadow army
The infamous Wagner mercenary group, said to be a private security and military company, is considered Putin’s shadow army: it is notorious for its brutal actions and also operates in Ukraine. Video recordings from Syria and intercepted radio messages in Ukraine prove that the Wagner group committed war crimes several times during their operations.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
