The Russian authorities have been recruiting women prisoners to fight in the war against Ukraine for well over a year now, but the practice is reportedly still on the rise. Former inmates who spoke to the independent outlet People of Baikal said that it’s not just the promise of freedom or financial compensation that drives women to sign military contracts — according to them, prison conditions are often so unbearable that even war seems preferable. Meduza shares a translation of People of Baikal’s report.