Vladimir Putin’s “private army” may be recruiting soldiers from jails due to difficulties replacing troops killed or wounded in Ukraine, British defence chiefs said on Tuesday.
They believe that at least 20,000 of the Russian president’s military personnel have been killed in Ukraine since he launched his invasion on February 24.
Three to four times as many Russian soldiers are estimated to have been wounded or incapacitated, with Ukrainian forces also suffering heavy losses.
In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “Russian Armed Forces’ personnel shortages may be forcing the Russian MOD to turn to non-traditional recruitment. This includes recruiting personnel from Russian prisons for the Wagner Private Military Company.
“If true, this move likely indicates difficulties in replacing the significant numbers of Russian casualties.”
Britain, the US and other allies are fighting an information war against Russia, and this claim about recruitment from jails is carefully couched as not a firm claim.
However, information coming out of the Kremlin is even more questionable given that it has not even admitted that an invasion has taken place and its denials of air and artillery strikes hitting civilians areas seem unbelievable.
The British MoD briefing added: “Russian troops continue to make small incremental territorial gains in Donetsk oblast with Russia claiming to have seized control of the town of Hryhorivka.
“Russian forces also continue their assault along the E-40 main supply route towards the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.
“Russian forces are likely maintaining military pressure on Ukrainian forces whilst regrouping and reconstituting for further offensives in the near future.”
