Kremlin continues to rely on prisoners as expendable resource in war against Ukraine – intel

The Russian authorities continue to rely on prisoners as an expendable resource in the war against Ukraine.

That is according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Ukrinform reports.

Last week, Russia's State Duma rejected eight amnesty bills in a single day that had been submitted between 2020 and 2025, including an initiative for a so-called "broad amnesty" for veterans, women with children, people with disabilities, protest participants, and those convicted of cooperating with "undesirable" foreign non-governmental organizations — that is, not for the most dangerous criminals.

At the same time, lawmakers refused amnesty for journalists, critics of the authorities, women and widows of participants in the so-called "special military operation," as well as entrepreneurs.

The last large-scale amnesty in Russia was carried out in 2015 – a ten-year gap is unprecedented throughout the entire period of Russia's constitution being in force.

However, the Kremlin has a different view.

The explanatory note of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation states that amnesty has "lost its relevance" due to the alleged humanization of criminal legislation.

In reality, this refers to selective exemptions from liability for mobilized soldiers and contract servicemen, as well as limited leniency for pregnant women and mothers of children under 14. The implication is clear: the only real path to freedom is participation in the war.

Against this backdrop, Russia's punitive system continues to release convicts convicted of serious crimes through the front line, who return to civilian life and kill again.

According to official data alone, since 2022 Russian courts have convicted more than 8,000 participants in the so-called "special military operation," nearly 900 of whom were involved in cases of violent crime.

"At least 423 people have been killed due to the actions of these 'veterans' – a direct consequence of a policy that substitutes justice with war," the Foreign Intelligence Service said.