Prisoners in Russia are being used to manufacture weapons, according to British intelligence.
“It is very likely that the Russian defense sector is resorting to the use of prison labor to meet the needs of wartime production. Russia has a long tradition of prison labor, but since 2017, forced labor has been brought back into law as a separate criminal punishment for crimes,” the report says.
In November 2022, it was reported that more than 200 people sentenced to forced labor in Nizhny Tagil would be sent to work at Uralvagonzavod. They were expected to work as machine operators, drillers, turners, millers, grinders, electric welders, fitters and crane operators.
The convicts will receive salaries, of which from 4% to 20% will be kept in favor of the state.