Disgraced Former Russian Mayor Released from Prison to Fight in Ukraine Conflict A former Russian mayor who was convicted of accepting bribes had his prison sentence cut short after signing a contract to fight with Russia's military in Ukraine. Oleg Gumenyuk, who served as mayor of Vladivostok, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment but was released after agreeing to bear arms and fight in Ukraine.

The former mayor of Russian Vladivostok, Oleg Gumenyuk, who was sentenced to 12 years for bribery, has signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry and will already go to fight in Ukraine after serving only one year in prison.

Gumenyuk was the mayor of Vladivostok from… https://t.co/WGNq51mJDd pic.twitter.com/EaVs2OfbnD

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 14, 2024

Russian authorities have been using various tactics to replenish troops in Ukraine, including deploying prisoners directly from jails to the frontlines. Inmates who sign up for six months of service can be pardoned upon their return. Photos of a man resembling Gumenyuk carrying a gun have been circulating on social media. In addition to the controversial release of Gumenyuk, reports of continued shelling in Ukraine have surfaced. A Russian attack on the city of Kherson injured six people, while a Ukrainian drone strike injured one in the Russian border village of Tetkino. This ongoing conflict has taken a toll on both countries involved.