Russian ex‑prison soldiers face torture and threats for refusing contracts
"They will beat you until there is no pulse, and then they will list you as casualties after the assault." This is what one of the Russian soldiers, who joined the army straight from prison where they were promised amnesty, has to say. Now, instead of enticing them with benefits, the military authorities are threatening them with death if they do not sign another contract.
The war in Ukraine has been raging for two and a half years. During this time, there have been many changes on the front, but what has been most frequently commented on is the involvement of Russians recruited directly from prisons in the conflict. As it turns out now, after the first contracts have expired, many of these soldiers are being blackmailed by their commanders.
The situation of Russian soldiers who were promised amnesty in exchange for participating in the war was described by the Russian portal Ważnyje Istorii. Journalists managed to reach one of them, who described the nightmare he encountered in the Russian army. He spoke, among other things, about death threats and torture used by commanders on recruits unwilling to participate in another assault.
"To get a day off, join the assault! Don’t want problems? No leave!" said one of the soldiers. According to him, the companies quickly lost fighters, and the wounded and sick were brought from the city to fill the gaps. Commanders tortured the guilty (Editor's note: casualties) with electric shocks. Those who tried to escape were beaten and forced to assault again," reported the Ważnyje Istorii portal.
A Russian soldier describes his treatment by commanders
For the "volunteers" from prisons, the issue is also that they are formally under the management of the Donetsk People's Republic, which is not subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Defence. Thus, they are not entitled to any benefits, nor have they been paid their salaries since the beginning of the year. Moreover, despite earlier promises, their sentences have not been annulled, so in Russia, they are seen as ordinary escapees.
Their commanders exploit this fact, forcing them to sign contracts with the army. Although they will receive no compensation for their service, their refusal to accept these conditions will result in brutal beatings and death, recorded as war casualties after the assault.
"I don't want to sign this damn contract. They threaten to put me on the wanted list, send me back to remand centres and camps, beat me until there is no pulse, and then mark me as a casualty after the assault," said a prisoner from Donetsk, fighting since November 2022, in an interview with the portal. According to the soldier, there are about 500 people with similar experiences.
