Putin expands conscription pool for convicts to fight in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expanded the categories of convicted individuals eligible to sign military contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, while maintaining bans for those convicted of serious crimes. The amendments, signed into the law "On Military Duty and Military Service," now allow those convicted or under investigation for minor and medium-gravity crimes, as well as certain weapons trafficking, safety violation, and military or transport offenses, to enlist. The ban remains for those accused of sexual crimes against minors, terrorism, treason, espionage, extremism, and other serious state crimes. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, total Russian casualties, including killed and wounded, reached approximately 1,451,750 as of August 3.