14 Mar, 20:28··
Für zwei Millionen Rubel an die Front: Aus dem Krieg in den Knast - SPIEGEL TV

Around 4,000 Russian soldiers are in Ukrainian prisoner camps. Initially, criminals were recruited from penal colonies to fight for money. Now, impoverished men from Russia's underprivileged areas are being sent to the front lines. This shift highlights the desperate measures taken by Russia to sustain its military efforts in the war.
Summarized from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
warprisonpoverty