Expendable Troops Are Essential to Russia’s Advance in Ukraine
Criminals have become a vital component of Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine, allowing the country to expand its army without resorting to a larger mobilization. The concept of using convict troops, known as “expendables,” is not new, but Russia has taken it to a new level due to its deep need for manpower.
After suffering an estimated 700,000 troops to death, injury, or desertion in the nearly three years of its war in Ukraine, Russia is struggling to replace its losses. Convicts provide an easy pool of expendable manpower without sparking popular discontent among the Russian public over the draft.
The use of convict troops has been successful in urban warfare, where they can absorb real bullets and provide cover for more valued Russian regulars. The Wagner Group, a mercenary outfit, has been at the forefront of this strategy, employing assault units mostly composed of convicts pardoned in return for fighting in Ukraine.
The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated at the Battle of Bakhmut, where the Wagner Group employed convict-staffed formations and area-battering with glide-bombing to outlast the Ukrainian defenders. Despite suffering an estimated 100,000 dead and wounded, Russia was able to capture the city.
The use of convict troops has also allowed Russia to exploit Ukrainian artillery weaknesses, making it more difficult for Ukrainian defenders to hold their positions. The Russian military has been criticized for its rigid tactics, but the Wagner convict units proved adaptable under desperate circumstances.
However, the concept of using convict troops is not without its challenges. Convict units have struggled in open terrain and mechanized warfare, where tanks and other heavy weapons are needed. Additionally, those convicts who survive the war come home to their communities as free citizens, where some commit the same crimes that got them jailed in the first place.
Despite these challenges, the use of convict troops is likely to continue, as it provides a means for Russia to expand its army without resorting to a larger mobilization. The Russian military is now relying on Storm-Z (now Storm-V) assault units manned by ill-trained and ill-equipped convicts, who have a chance of surviving the war of no more than 25%, according to the BBC.
The effectiveness of this strategy is a testament to the ruthlessness of the Russian military, which is willing to sacrifice its soldiers to achieve its goals. As the war in Ukraine continues, it remains to be seen whether the use of convict troops will remain a key component of Russia’s military strategy.
