Thousands of Russian convicts are being press-ganged to fight in Ukraine with threats of longer sentences, crippling beatings or even worse if they refuse.
Russia ’s prison colony population fell 23,000 in just two months as Moscow desperately tries to fill huge gaps in its regular assault troops on the front line.
Lags were previously offered freedom deals if they joined the invasion, but the notorious Wagner Group of mercenaries, founded by ex-special forces colonel Dmitry Utkin, has switched to more brutal recruitment tactics.
Those refusing to fight have been left unable to walk or have disappeared, while those recruited are likely to die very soon after joining the front line as poorly trained, ill-equipped soldiers.
In just two months more than 500 ex-jailbirds have been killed in Ukraine after being forcibly recruited or having “volunteered” in exchange for freedom.
The recruitment drive was pushed in extremely remote detention centres in Siberia and Russia’s Far East including in Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Norilsk inside the Arctic Circle and Yakutia.
These isolated camps are out of reach for many relatives living in European Russia, making it easier for prisoners to be wiped from records.
Recruiters aim to take 150 to 200 from each jail, targeting those who have committed the most serious crimes.
A source told the Mirror: “According to information gathered from what is being said by relatives it is impossible to refuse, as if prisoners do they might disappear.
"Some prisoners have been beaten so badly they are unable to walk and are likely to then be given extended sentences and face a terrible choice.
“On the front line many are simply cannon fodder – shot if they retreat and likely killed if they advance.
“So they are done for, whatever they choose.”
Other prisoners have been threatened with being charged with further offences, making it unlikely they would ever leave prison alive.
All communications have been blocked, stopping any contact with anyone in the outside world.
Some families have been lied to by officials claiming they have to impose a sudden quarantine, meaning relatives cannot see the prisoner.
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin himself served nine years behind bars.
The horror emerged as Ukraine announced over 85,000 Russian troops have been killed during tyrant Vladimir Putin ’s bungled invasion.
