Russia Closes Prisons Amid Massive Inmate Recruitment for Ukraine War

The significant decline in prison population due to the recruitment of inmates for the war effort in Ukraine has led to the closure of several Russian prisons.

• Russia's prison population has significantly decreased as inmates are recruited to fight in Ukraine, leading to the closure of some prisons.
• A regional official cited the closures as a measure to 'optimize and save money,' amidst a large reduction in the number of convicts.
• Russia's military and the Wagner Group have been recruiting prisoners, promising pardons or conditional releases for service in Ukraine.
• The recruitment has caused the prison population to drop from 420,000 before the war to a historic low of 266,000.
• Russian prisoners conscripted to fight are told they may have to serve until the war ends or until they are too old or incapacitated.

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