The Russian Federation will use prisoners to produce weapons
The Russian defense industry is likely to resort to the use of prison labor in an attempt to meet wartime production needs.
This, according to European Pravda, was stated in an intelligence review by the U.K. Defense Ministry on Friday.
It is noted that in November 2022, Uralvagonzavod, Russia's largest tank manufacturer, told local media that it would hire 250 prisoners after a meeting with the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN).
Russia has a long tradition of using prison labor, but since 2017 forced labor as a separate criminal punishment has been reintroduced.
The FSIN, which has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, controls an empire of more than 400,000 prisoners and is often accused of extreme brutality and corruption.
The prison population is a unique human resource that Russian leaders can use to support the war in Ukraine, which Russia calls a special military operation, while volunteers remain in short supply, British intelligence officials claim.
Author - Olena Madiak, 13/01/2023
