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Intelligence Says Russia Forced 50,000 Ukrainians into Military

8/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories have conscripted over 50,000 Ukrainians against their will, intelligence says.
Most interviewed Ukrainian-born POWs claim they joined the Russian army voluntarily.
A Donetsk man said he was forced to fight after his family stayed home.
Prisoners craft wooden coffins and artificial Christmas trees, using wages for food and cigarettes.
Convict-soldiers must survive combat to earn release, with low odds for assault troops.

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Story summary

Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories have conscripted over 50,000 Ukrainians against their will, intelligence says.
Most interviewed Ukrainian-born POWs claim they joined the Russian army voluntarily.
A Donetsk man said he was forced to fight after his family stayed home.
Prisoners craft wooden coffins and artificial Christmas trees, using wages for food and cigarettes.
Convict-soldiers must survive combat to earn release, with low odds for assault troops.