From Convict to Cannon Fodder: The Dark Journey of a Former Wagner Mercenary in Ukraines Conflict

Alexander Platov was serving a sentence for the murder of his wife when he encountered an unforeseen chance for freedom. In 2022, he was enlisted by the Wagner mercenary group to participate in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a promise of clemency in exchange for his service. Six months later, he found himself back in society.

Struggling to adapt to normal life, Platov re-signed with the Defense Ministry and returned to combat by the end of 2024. However, this time around, he and other former inmates were regarded as expendable resources.

After enduring a suicide assault and suffering extensive shrapnel injuries, Platov recounted his experiences to The Moscow Times.

While The Moscow Times could not independently validate all of Platov’s assertions, investigations by exiled media and sources from Russia and Ukraine confirm certain aspects of his narrative.

The Defense Ministry did not respond promptly to requests for comments from The Moscow Times.

«Life outside was tough. I’m a convicted felon; everyone knew I had multiple incarcerations. Additionally, I had a reputation for drinking. I thought I’d be hailed as a hero after fighting in Ukraine, but instead, people looked down on me,» Platov, aged 35, stated.

Born in the late 1980s to a struggling family in Ulyanovsk, a city located along the Volga River, Platov first encountered the law at the age of 17.

«I was sentenced to eight years for auto theft. After that, I got married. She was unfaithful, and I ended up stabbing her. That led to another thirteen years in prison. That’s when Wagner came into my life,» he shared.

In October 2022, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin landed in the prison yard by helicopter to personally recruit inmates.

«We didn’t take him seriously at first,” Platov recalled. «I spoke back to him. Then the guards pulled me aside. Uncle Zhenya [Prigozhin] yanked my ear and said, ‘Join Wagner or rot in here.’ In prison, inmates were desperate to escape. I enlisted for freedom, and the pay was attractive, but I also wanted to atone for my past with blood and sweat.»

Yuri Borovskikh, a human rights advocate from the Rus Sidyashchaya (Russia Behind Bars) NGO, mentioned that Prigozhin enlisted approximately 50,000 inmates into the Wagner Group during the invasion. Since the Defense Ministry took over the recruitment from Wagner in early 2023, they have enlisted over 100,000 prisoners, he claimed.

As a Wagner operative, Platov commanded a reconnaissance unit in Bakhmut.

«For bravery, I received a silver medal from Putin. Imagine that — after two serious convictions. They even granted me veteran status. Upon my return, I bought a house and secured a job, but people disrespected me. They thought I got out solely to save myself and that I had purchased the medal. So, I went back to the draft office and signed another contract — supposedly to ‘defend the Motherland,’ or so I thought.»

Borovskikh noted that individuals like Platov often face compounded trauma and many re-offend, end up in prison again, and re-enlist for military service.

After signing with the Defense Ministry, Platov was dispatched near the Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk where he led an assault group in the 110th Motor Rifle Brigade.

«The Defense Ministry sent us into this militia like we were nothing. On paper, it’s spetsnaz. In reality, they are deploying ex-cons and Chechnya veterans. No retreats or breaks. You might get a vacation in two years, if they can identify your skeleton,» he remarked.

Platov’s description of their treatment mirrors the current handling of newly recruited convicts. According to Borovskikh, military contracts for prisoners now persist until the war concludes, leaving those who sign them with virtually no rights.

«There are several penal battalions, like this brigade or Storm Z. Most of these men have no families. Their lives are entirely at the mercy of their commanders. Those with experience may prove useful. The others? Just cannon fodder for assaults,» Borovskikh explained.

Platov believes that the 110th Brigade exists partly to «punish» former Wagner fighters.

«There are no real Wagner troops here, just ex-convicts, the leftovers. If the genuine Wagner units returned from Africa or Belarus, Ukraine would be in dire trouble. Russia would be as well,” he claimed. “The only thing we were given was a rifle. Everything else, from underwear to helmets, we had to purchase ourselves. Our salaries ranged from 210,000 to 250,000 rubles ($2,300 to $2,750), but that was consumed by food, gear, and other necessities. You survive however you can.»

Platov stated that the brigade made no territorial gains near Pokrovsk. His initial task was to seize the village of Zelene Pole, which his platoon managed to accomplish. Subsequently, they were rotated out.

“They substituted us with naval infantry. Contract soldiers from the Black Sea Fleet. That fleet no longer exists. Twenty-five ships have sunk,” he noted. “One marine hadn’t touched a rifle since he was sworn in two decades ago. They told him he’d be guarding kindergartens in Donetsk.”

Instead, he revealed, the marines were thrown into frontline combats with only basic assault rifles and two magazines each. Shortly after their arrival, an American Bradley fighting vehicle approached, opened fire at 200 meters, deployed infantry, and obliterated their unit before withdrawing.

«They [the Ukrainians] didn’t even bother to secure the position,» Platov remarked. «If they had realized how dire the situation was, they could have taken all three of our lines.»

The next mission proved fatal for Platov’s comrades and nearly cost him his life as well. He attributed the failure not to the enemy but to the incompetence and brutality of his own superiors.

The platoon was dropped 25 kilometers ahead of friendly lines near Ocheretyne with no support and scant supplies.

«We were ordered to bring our own food and water. I led the assault team, but we never reached enemy positions,» he recalled.

Three remaining behind to maintain communication while the rest advanced were decimated.

«The command instructed us, ‘Advance; we’ve got a drone guiding you.’ I said, ‘What drone? There are three enemy drones to our right and two to the left. Are you out of your mind?’ They retorted, ‘If you don’t move right now, our own kamikaze drone will hit your trench.’ So, we charged forward. We didn’t even reach the front line before Ukrainian drones took us out,» he affirmed.

Platov was hit in both legs, his back, and spine. Medical evacuation was non-existent.

«I crawled for four days, covering 25 kilometers. Only two of us survived out of nine. We used bottles to relieve ourselves, took antiviral medications, and drank. That was our only means of survival,» he said.

Upon returning, Platov felt treated as a traitor.

“They asked, ‘You’re the commander, right? Where is your group? As a Wagner fighter, weren’t you supposed to be tougher?’” he recalled. “But I wasn’t the one issuing orders — it was the incompetents back in their comfortable headquarters.”

Ordered to rejoin the front immediately, Platov resisted what he perceived as an “insane” demand. Only then did the commanders permit a temporary retreat.

«In Wagner, there was brotherhood. No ranks, no insults. Everyone was a ‘brother.’ You fought for the person next to you. Here? You’re nothing,» he expressed.

While serving in the Donetsk People’s Republic’s 110th brigade (formerly known as the 100th), Platov noted that Russian military police in the occupied Donetsk region would forcibly draft men.

«They claim Ukrainians abduct men for mobilization. The same thing happens here. The military police stop buses, drag men out, including students and the elderly, and send them to the front lines,» he explained.

BBC reports corroborate Platov’s assertion that Wagner was more lenient towards inmates. The life expectancy of ex-convicts in the mercenary unit was higher compared to those enlisted by the Defense Ministry.

The «brotherhood» Platov described might be rooted in prison dynamics that transitioned into Wagner’s ranks.

Borovskikh suggested that Wagner’s recruitment methods allowed the informal prison hierarchy to manifest on the battlefield, fostering a sense of loyalty and solidarity, albeit only among specific groups.

«Wagner was Prigozhin’s initiative — less bureaucratic. They accepted anyone and formed separate units. The Defense Ministry maintains a blacklist: crimes such as extremism, terrorism, or pedophilia disqualify you. Otherwise, you are welcome,» he elaborated.

Platov is currently residing in a dormitory in occupied Ukraine, paying out of his pocket after being denied medical treatment. Nevertheless, he remains resolute about re-enlisting.

“Of course, I’m going back,” he declared. “I won’t return home until I get revenge for my leg. It’s not merely about vengeance. I love my country. People think I went for the money. Sure, I earned 2.5 million rubles ($30,441) for the contract. But I would have gone regardless. I just didn’t anticipate ending up in this wretched militia.”

Borovskikh stated that while Russia markets the war as a patriotic endeavor, most prisoners enlist for financial compensation and freedom, with patriotism acting as a post-rationalization.

According to Rus Sidyashchaya, roughly 25,000 convicts were granted pardons after serving with Wagner in Ukraine. Including Defense Ministry contracts, this figure approaches 50,000.

The independent news outlet 7×7 reveals that ex-combatants have been implicated in at least 294 murders after returning from war. An earlier assessment by the independent news service Vyorstka estimated that as many as 750 individuals may have fallen victim to violence from Ukraine war veterans.

Reports from exiled media and various sources corroborate certain elements of Platov’s account.