- The Wagner Group's founder released 24 prisoners from mercenary service, Russian media reported.
- Video shows Yevgeny Prigozhin telling them not to rape or do drugs as they reintegrate into society.
New footage shows Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin freeing the first batch of two dozen former convicts sent to fight in Ukraine, after completing their six months of service, according to Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti.
Prigozhin is seen addressing the former convicts recruited to serve in his mercenary army, per the outlet. He also issues a warning about their future criminal behavior.
"Don't drink, don't use drugs, don't rape broads, behave yourselves," he said.
Wagner Group troops have played an increasingly important role in the war in Ukraine, with many being recruited from Russian prisons, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Video footage emerged in September that appeared to show Prigozhin personally addressing prisoners and offering them pardons if they take up arms in Ukraine.
The move offered convicts the possibility of avoiding lengthy prison sentences for serious crimes in exchange for just six months of military service.
In the new video, Prigozhin is seen addressing the men as being newly exonerated by their time fighting Russia's war, and who should now be given "the utmost respect" by society.
Insider verified the subtitling of a portion of the address that was posted on Twitter by a user who regularly translates Russian material.
—Volodymyr Tretyak (@VolodyaTretyak) January 5, 2023
However, Insider was unable to verify the footage itself, and the nature of the men's convictions was unclear.
President Vladimir Putin has long leaned on Prigozhin's troops for his military exploits.
Wagner Group troops have been used in multiple operations in both the Middle East and Africa, as well as the 2022 Ukraine invasion. They have been linked to atrocities committed in Bucha.
Prigozhin first admitted to being the owner of the Wagner Group in September last year.
Alongside his initial recruitment promise to convicts, Prigozhin also issued a threat, per a translation by The Wall Street Journal's Yaroslav Trofimov: "If you serve six months, you are free. If you arrive in Ukraine and decide it's not for you, we execute you."
This appeared to be borne out in November, when footage circulated of the brutal sledgehammer killing of Yevgeniy Nuzhin, who identified himself as a Wagner soldier who had surrendered to Ukraine.
Prigozhin later released a statement celebrating the killing, adding to the suggestion that it was a form of retribution.