Russian ugliness: Offers freedom to prisoners if they agree to fight in Ukraine

Many relatives of prisoners are weighing the offer. Then prisoners disappear, allowing their loved ones to analyze reports of injuries arriving in hospitals.

With a regular army weakening after nearly six months of Ukraine's bloody invasion, there is evidence that the Kremlin is making ugly solutions by recruiting Russian prisoners to fight, CNN writes.

Activists believe hundreds of Russian officials have approached dozens of prisons throughout Russia and are offering them something.

Some have even been taken from prison where an American prisoner, Paul Whelan, is being held. His brother David said in a statement that he had heard ten volunteers leave the IK17 in Mordovia to join the front line in Ukraine.

Recent Western estimates suggest that as many as 75 thousand Russian troops have been killed or injured since the beginning of the occupation (a claim the Kremlin has denied).

A prisoner spoke of CNN from his prison cell on condition of anonymity using a heavily smuggled smartphone in Russia's prison system to describe the conditions offered.

“They accept killers, but not rapists, pedophiles, extremists or terrorists”, he said.

In my case, if it is true, then I accept such an offer, the prisoner said.

This could make a real difference for me: being imprisoned for almost a decade and getting out in six months if you're lucky. But that's if you're lucky. I just want to go home to the kids as soon as possible. If this option is possible, then why not?”