Lauge Risom Koch 
Russia is reportedly struggling to track convicted criminals released from prison for military service, with some accused of disappearing from units and committing new violent crimes.
Russia is facing growing concern over convicted criminals who were released from prison to serve in the military and later disappeared from official oversight.
The issue has fueled public anxiety as some former inmates have allegedly returned to civilian life and been linked to new violent crimes.
Prison recruits
According to o2, Russia has continued recruiting prisoners to reinforce military ranks during the war in Ukraine.
Under the system, inmates sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry in exchange for reduced sentences or possible pardons.
While officially treated as military volunteers, the policy has created serious control problems.
Reports suggest some recruits never reach the battlefield or later abandon their units.
Lost control
According to o2, citing sibreal.org, more former prisoners are reportedly fleeing military units instead of fighting at the front.
The report says Russian authorities are struggling to monitor some recruits after they leave prison.
One case involved Denis Gopparov, who allegedly escaped from a training camp before murdering a soldier’s widow in Sverdlovsk Oblast.
“Only in court did we learn that he had previously been convicted and recruited from a colony. He was serving time for murder,” a friend of the victim told sibreal.org.
New crimes
Another case cited by o2 involved Andrei Kijko, a convicted serial rapist and murderer who signed a military contract.
He was reportedly believed to have died at the front, but his body was never found and he was later allegedly seen near St. Petersburg.
The report also highlighted Sergei Anagurichi, who allegedly returned to his hometown after deserting and resumed violent behaviour.
“By the way, he escaped from the front twice! Oksana, of course, didn’t know about it. We didn’t even know his real name!” a victim’s relative told sibreal.org.
Sources: o2, sibreal.org
