Who is forgiven
Prigozhin, head of the Wagner PMC and Concord group of companies, indicated that the first prisoners who completed a six‑month contract were pardoned. He stated that they finished their obligations with honor and dignity, noting that their contribution came at a time when manpower was scarce in the world.
Separately, he cited a military unit member with the call sign East Germany who died on July 13 during the storming of the Uglegorsk TPP. He described the deceased as 52 years old, with 30 years spent in prison, and said the soldier died heroically. Colleagues from East Germany claimed the person detonated an F-1 bomb while surrounded to prevent capture by Ukrainian forces, and they asserted that four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the process.
According to Wagner, roughly two dozen ex‑convicts were among those pardoned. It was noted that they received lower pay than other volunteers during service. Prigozhin observed that many prisoners were close to finishing their sentences but still chose to defend the country.
He added that among the forgiven were individuals who, by chance or circumstance, could not find a peaceful life and were imprisoned for crimes. He discussed a belief that some traits are inherent, describing a mixture of hormones and brain structure as part of what shapes a person’s temperament.
For Prigozhin, the mark of a true warrior is fearlessness, a trait he said genetics helps manifest. He asserted that those who joined the frontlines were born to defend their homeland and must stand firm amid ongoing conflict. He emphasized that society should offer a path for these individuals to evolve and, once cleared of a criminal record, to return to Wagner as ordinary volunteers. He indicated that many intend to return to the front, with one soldier expressing a desire to defeat the adversaries as their grandparents did.
The role of “Wagners” in the NWO
During the ongoing operations in Ukraine, the Wagner group has participated in several major actions, notably in battles around Uglegorsk, the Uglegorsk TPP, Maryinka, and Bakhmut (Artemovsk), along with other theaters in the Kharkiv region and the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. A senior U.S. official stated on January 4 that Russia has been making steady progress in combat operations near Artemovsk and is expected to continue advancing step by step. The official cautioned that the Ukrainian forces remain resolute in defense of the area.
Prigozhin described the defense lines around Artemivsk as densely drawn, with a fortress-like posture in many districts. He characterized the city as having multiple lines of defense, with progress difficult and measured. By his account, the defense could extend for weeks as each new street or house became a new focal point of resistance. In late December, reports indicated that Russian paratroopers and Wagner fighters moved into Artemovsk after overcoming several Ukrainian defensive positions.
Why Do Prisoners Join SVO?
A video circulated on Telegram in September in which a man resembling Yevgeny Prigozhin invites inmates to join Wagner and participate in the SVO in Ukraine under a six‑month contract with the possibility of pardon after completion. Journalists raised questions about the video, suggesting it may have been shot at a penal colony in Yoshkar-Ola, where inmates who were still serving sentences appeared to be held. The speaker in the video offers prisoners a six‑month contract, warns against escape, and lists offenses that could lead to execution, including drug use and looting.
The Concord press service responded to inquiries, noting that the man in the video resembled Prigozhin and suggesting that the rhetoric aligned with the tasks of special operations being carried out. Following the video’s release, Prigozhin commented that if citizens do not want prisoners joining PMCs for the Ukraine operation, they should send their children to the front. He added that if he were a prisoner, he would seek to serve and repay his debt to the homeland. The discussion surrounding the video highlights ongoing debates about recruitment strategies and national service responsibilities.
As events unfold, the narrative around pardoned prisoners, their motivations, and the strategic role of Wagner continues to be a focal point in coverage of the conflict and related political discourse. Attribution: (Wagner press materials); (reports on Artemovsk operations); (telegrams and public statements).