Russia-Ukraine war: Wagner head releases prisoners who fought in Ukraine

The head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group and ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin extended amnesty to a batch of convicts who fought on the ground in Ukraine. This follows video footage released by Russian media showing the first set of convicts that were granted amnesty.

In video footage released by the Ria Novosti news outlet, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen telling what would be the first batch of convicts that served in the war for six months that they are being granted amnesty.

“You’ve worked through your contract. You worked honorably, with dignity,” Prigozhin was seen telling the convicts, saying that they should expect to be treated “with the highest respect” in Russian society after serving for six months in the war effort.

“Don’t drink a lot, don’t use drugs, don’t rape women, do not get up to no good,” said Prigozhin.

The video footage was released after Zambia criticized Russia when a Zambian student who was serving a prison sentence in Russia was killed on the front lines in Ukraine after being granted amnesty for their service. The mercenary group is originally made up of hardened members of the Russian military and fought in Mali, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Syria, as well as Ukraine.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Wagner mercenary group – funded by Prigozhhin, an oligarch also known as “Putin’s chef” – kept a low profile. However, mercenaries of the group have since taken on a more public persona since the war began in February last year.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is set to receive more armored combat vehicles from the West but stopped short of providing the heavier armored tanks Ukraine has requested. French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France would be sending light AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles following a call between the two leaders.

Hours after the announcement from Paris, US President Joe Biden said the United States was also considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. This would be in addition to the 2,000 vehicles the Pentagon has provided Ukraine, including 477 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and over 1,200 Humvees.