Putin confirms signing decrees to pardon convicts who fought in Ukraine

President of Russia Vladimir Putin confirmed that he signs decrees to pardon convicts that agree to fight in Ukraine.

“The government must do everything to fulfil its obligations to those fighting in the war. […] There are, of course, those who are convicted again, in which case the person must answer to the fullest extent of the law,” said Putin at a meeting with “war correspondents.”

Putin added that former convicts who fight in Ukraine rarely become repeat offenders. “Among those who were released from prison and participated in the Special Military Operation, only 0.4% have become repeat offenders,” he said.

• Since the summer of 2022, Russia has been known to recruit prisoners from penal colonies to fight in Ukraine. In exchange, the prisoners are pardoned and given cash payments.