seven former prisoners escaped with weapons from a unit in the “DPR”

Seven Russian servicemen from among the former prisoners fled with weapons from a military unit in the Russian-controlled territory of the Donetsk region of Ukraine (the Russian authorities call it the “DNR”). This is reported by TASS with reference to law enforcement agencies.

According to the agency, five fugitives have already been caught. Three of them, in particular, were detained in a state of intoxication in a cafe in Bryanka (Luhansk region). One more was allegedly shot by the deserters themselves. Thus, the search for another escaped military man continues.

It is confirmed that they left a part in the Soledar district of the Donetsk region. Previously, this territory was under the control of PMC “Wagner”. TASS does not mention PMC.

The day before, a number of mass media reported that 39 armed servicemen escaped from the military camp in Lysychansk in the Russian-controlled territory of the Luhansk region. According to the publication 161.ru, we are also talking about former prisoners recruited for the war in Ukraine. The publication clarifies that the fugitives belonged to the “Storm Z” assault unit. According to the publication’s source, in the Rostov region of Russia, which borders the Luhansk region of Ukraine, patrols at border points were strengthened, reports were sent to the heads of local administrations. There was no official confirmation of these messages during the day. It is not clear whether the TASS report is related to this escape, or whether it describes a second episode.

The recruitment of prisoners of war in Ukraine was started by the founder of PMC “Wagner” Yevgeny Prigozhin in the summer of last year. At the beginning of this year, according to Prigozhin, the PMC stopped recruiting prisoners, and the Ministry of Defense of Russia took care of it. This was confirmed, in particular, by an investigation by the BBC.