Russian soldier recruited from prison despite learning difficulties dies fighting in Ukraine

A former Russian prisoner with learning difficulties who was recruited by Russia’s Defence Ministry to fight in Ukraine shortly before his sentence was due to end, has died in action, independent media outlet Mediazona reported on Tuesday, citing the dead man’s sister.

Semyon Karmanov, a 27-year-old from the Siberian city of Kemerovo, who was unable to read or write, died on 2 August, his sister Anastasia told Mediazona. The military enlistment office said Karmanov had died from a head wound, but provided no further details.

Karmanov was handed a two-year jail sentence in 2022 for theft after failing to report finding a phone and two bank cards on the street in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. He was originally detained in 2020, after spending a little over 5,000 rubles (€51) with the bank cards, treating friends and buying a bunch of flowers for his mother.

Though he was due to be released in April 2024, Karmanov was somehow persuaded to sign a contract with the Defence Ministry with just six months left to serve. Assigned to be a military driver despite being unable to drive, Karmanov later contacted his family and told them that he had been sent to Ukraine after passing a medical examination and being deemed fit for military service.

“He signed it without even looking or knowing what it was. He couldn’t read it. ... They took advantage of him! Who cares about a disabled person!” his mother Svetlana told Mediazona.