At least seven convicted criminals recruited by Wagner, a private Russian military contractor, have been involved in violent crimes in Russia after returning from fighting in Ukraine, according to an investigation by the Associated Press. Convicts were offered freedom in return for their service, with an estimated 50,000 agreeing to join Wagner. Over 32,000 have returned from Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin recently confirming he was signing pardon decrees for those who fought there. The British Defense Ministry warned in March that the use of convicts in battle would present a significant challenge to Russia's wartime society.

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