THE Russian Lower House expected later today with voting to give initial support to legislation that would allow the Department of Defense to sign contracts with suspected or convicted criminals to fight in the Ukraine.

More than 15 months after the start of what Russia calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, Moscow — whose forces have suffered heavy casualties — is scrambling to recruit more troops for Europe’s biggest ground war since World War II War.

Under the proposed changes, it would be possible to sign a contract with someone who is being investigated for a crime, whose case is being reviewed by a court or after being convicted, but before the verdict becomes legally binding, according to the database of State Duma, i.e. the lower house.

Those convicted of sexual crimes, treason, terrorism or extremism will not be able to sign contracts.

Those who sign will be released from criminal liability upon completing their contract or if awarded for their combat performance.

Previously, the mercenary group Wagner was allowed to recruit convicts from prisons to fight in Ukraine, but in February it announced that it had stopped this practice.

The new changes being considered by the Duma do not cover the recruitment of people already serving sentences, while the Defense Ministry has not commented.

However, the leader of Wagner, Mr Yevgeny Prigozhinreiterated today the refusal of his fighters to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense.

“None of Wagner’s fighters is ready to walk the path of shame again. That’s why they won’t sign the contracts,” Prigozhin said in a rare show of contempt for the Russian leader, a day after Putin’s statement that these contracts are necessary.

Putin yesterday backed the Defense Ministry’s call for “volunteer” fighters to be sent to Ukraine to sign contracts with the country’s military administration, widely seen as a way of exerting control over Wagner.

As Putin said, the contracts are necessary to allow all participants in the Russian campaign in Ukraine to receive social benefits to which they are entitled. These include compensation for combatants who are injured and for their families if they are killed in action.

Prigozhin has been engaged in an open feud with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the army chief since last year, accusing them of not providing sufficient support and ammunition to Wagner’s forces in Ukraine, leading to heavy casualties among their ranks.

However, in his comments today he estimated that a “compromise solution” between Putin and parliament could be found to allow Wagner fighters to receive both social guarantees and certified fighter status.