“Wagner Group just won’t give up. They are unstoppable. Just like orcs…”
– now demilitarized Ukrainian Army spokesperson.
Be True to Yourself! πͺ pic.twitter.com/6ehNRYxGqJ
β James Porrazzo (@JamesPorrazzo) March 25, 2023
Previously: Reuters Interviews 5 Happy Wagner Soldiers: βI Wish All Real Men Would Join Wagnerβ
This is such a wonderful and inspiring tale.
Criminals are the most despised people in society, and Russia has given them the chance to become war heroes – the most respected and honored people in society.
More than 5,000 former criminals have been pardoned after finishing their contracts to fight in Russia’s Wagner mercenary group against Ukraine, the founder of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on Saturday.
Wagner Group, originally staffed by battle-hardened veterans of the Russian armed forces, took on a much more prominent role in the Ukraine war after the Russian army suffered a series of humiliating defeats last year.
Prigozhin emerged from the shadows and recruited thousands of men from prisons, offering them the chance of freedom in return for serving in some of the most dangerous battles in Ukraine.
“At the present time, more than 5,000 people have been released on pardon after completing their contracts with Wagner,” Prigozhin, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said in an audio clip posted on Telegram.
Prigozhin said just 0.31% of those pardoned after Wagner service had gone on to commit crime, a figure he said was 10-20 times less than the standard indicators.
…
Prigozhin, who served nine years in prison in Soviet times for robbery and other crimes before going into business during the 1990s, has admitted interfering in U.S. elections and acknowledged for the first time his role in founding Wagner.
Among other great things, this is the perfect way to stop recidivism.
The worst criminals are likely to act recklessly on the battlefield and get killed. But if they make it back, the experience will have changed them.
No one who has risked his life fighting for his country, has seen others die for his country, is going to engage in anti-social criminal actions.
I think that is the most important story. But the other story is that Russia is able to send in an army that can die and have there be no consequences. No mother is going to whine that her murderer son was killed in a war – she’ll think it’s the best thing that has ever happened to him.
Further, it saves money either way – if the soldier dies, the state no longer has to house him. If he comes back, the state no longer has to house him, because he’s pardoned and a changed man.
The US figured out a way to have no cost for dead soldiers by sending the dipshit Ukrainians to fight their war for them.
Very smart of the Russians to figure out a similar arrangement.
Wagner is magic.
A rally in support of Wagner Group in the Central African Republic. γ €
Residents of the capital came out with Russian flags and banners:
“Russia is Wagner, we love Russia and we love Wagner.”
How does this make you feel? pic.twitter.com/nWa5psmEF7
β James Porrazzo (@JamesPorrazzo) March 24, 2023
Central African Republic women thank Wagner Group for bringing peace to the country. γ €
“Wagner have done a great job of preparing & training our soldiers. Thanks to the support of Russian allies, our army is able to protect its citizens & counter terrorist threats.”
π·πΊ π€ π¨π« pic.twitter.com/bTGwhZZz9h
β James Porrazzo (@JamesPorrazzo) March 25, 2023