Support The Moscow Times!

Kremlin Says Convicts Fighting in Ukraine Atone for Crimes 'With Blood'

Russian soldiers in Ukraine's partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region. Alexei Konovalov / TASS

Russian prisoners sent to fight in Ukraine are atoning for their crimes "with blood," the Kremlin's spokesman said Friday, answering questions about the controversial pardon of a man who brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend.

Tens of thousands of Russians convicted of violent crimes including murder and rape have been recruited to fight in Ukraine, being offered pardons and released from prison after serving on the front lines.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov defended the policy after reports said that Vladislav Kanyus, a man sentenced to 17 years in a maximum-security prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, was freed after fighting in Ukraine.

The case made international headlines in 2021 after it was revealed that Kanyus inflicted 111 individual injuries to his ex-partner, 23-year-old Vera Pekhteleva, in an hours-long attack described as "torture."

"Those convicted, including for serious crimes, are atoning with blood for their crime on the battlefield," Peskov told reporters.

"They are atoning with blood in storm brigades, under bullets and under artillery fire," he added.

Russia has likely recruited some 100,000 people from prisons to fight in Ukraine, according to estimates by Olga Romanova, the head of an independent prisoners' rights group.

Local Russian media outlets have reported several instances of released prisoners going on to commit serious offenses, including murder, after finishing their military service.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more