[FlyingBears]

Prisoners provided a decent chunk of recruitment for Ukrainian forces at the beginning of the war as well. Regardless of country, prison population represents a group, already familiar with weapons, violence, and audacity to use them, which can be reliably sourced for fighting or advancing other interests that require extreme measures. Even if Wagner is dissolved, its remnants will control the criminal underworld of Russia and will be a punitive instrument for any dissent.

[ivan_gammel]

Ukrainian prisoners were incorporated in Ukrainian armed forces, right? Different culture than in PMC, which kills traitors with a hammer.

[alephnerd]

In the early days of the war back in 2014-15, it wasn't as professional due to the institutional collapse that comes with the changing of an entire political system which lead to questionable Militias being formed.

There was a lot of work on professionalizing the essentially greenfield Ukrainian Army by NATO members like Canada, US, UK, France, Germany, Türkiye, etc.

That said, a number of the unsavory militias from the 2014-15 period (such as the Azov Brigade and the Dudayev Battalion) still exist in a limited form, but largely neutered due to the efforts out to professionalize the Ukrainian Army.

[herewulf]

The general level of professionalism has certainly not increased since February 2022. That is to be expected though. On the other hand, combat effectiveness has definitely increased.

[dredmorbius]

PMC == "private military company"?

[actinium226]

Yes