Press secretary of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Dmytro Hutsuliak has said the Russian occupation command in Donbas is building up the fighting efficiency of formations and units of the so-called "army corps" by recruiting persons with a criminal record.
Read alsoEscalation in Donbas: Ukraine reports 47 enemy attacks on Ukraine in last day
"The Russian occupation command is building up the fighting efficiency of the formations and units of the so-called 'army corps,' increasing their number by recruiting persons with a criminal record," he said at a briefing in Kyiv, citing information from Ukraine's Main Intelligence Department, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
From now on, contracts in Russian-occupied Donbas could be signed with persons released on probation irrespective of the severity of their crimes, Hutsuliak said.
In addition, he noted, the Russian occupation command promises such persons to expunge the previous conviction if they are engaged in "combat tasks."
