Russia's Wagner mercenaries halt prisoner recruitment campaign, founder Prigozhin says

Russia's Wagner mercenary group has stopped recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine, Wagner's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said

"The recruitment of prisoners by the Wagner private military company has completely stopped," Prigozhin said in a response to a request for comment from a Russian media outlet published on social media.Wagner began recruiting prisoners in Russia's sprawling penal system in summer 2022, with Prigozhin, a catering entrepreneur who served nine years in prison during the Soviet Union, offering convicts a pardon if they survived six months in Ukraine.

Wagner has not provided information on how many convicts joined its ranks, but Russian penal service figures published in November showed the country's prison population dropping by over 20,000 between August and November, the largest drop in over a decade.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

Reuters /  🏆 2. in US

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Wagner's 'example' inspiring Russia to create private armies: UkraineThe new private military company entity will be created by Gazprom, a state-run monopolist energy company in Russia, according to Ukraine.
Read more »

Russia’s Wagner forces accused of using drugs to bolster stamina on the front linesRussia's infamous Wagner Group has been accused of supplying its troops with performance enhancing drugs to keep up stamina on the front lines.
Read more »

Wagner’s next targets in Africa: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory CoastThe Wagner Group, the mercenary army run by Vladimir Putin's ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, is instrumental to Russia's war on Ukraine. But Wagner has also been on the offensive across Africa.
Read more »

Hardline Russian critics are forcing Putin's handA measure proposed by Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin would criminalize the criticism of anyone who took part in combat operations in Ukraine.
Read more »

Russia loses 25 tanks in two days as video shows deadly strike: UkraineThe reported losses come as Russia is expected to launch a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Read more »

Russia Pushes on Several Fronts in UkraineRussian forces launched multiple attacks in eastern Ukraine, pushing for a breakthrough on the battlefield ahead of the delivery of new Western weapons.
Read more »