comment: >
  
  Do you have a link to an article about this?
  edit: found it, for anyone else looking, here is the transcript from the podcast where it’s talked about.
context: They probably use the prisoners as lures to locate Ukrainian positions. >
  
  They are sent toward Ukrainian lines to find weaknesses. If they reach a certain point the commanders know that that spot is weaker. If they all die they know it’s heavily defended. >
  
  It’s like the days of forlorn hope vanguards. 
  You’d think in a day of armoured vehicles and drones there’d be a less horrifying way to locate enemy positions. >
  
  The difference between forlorn hope vanguards and Russian cannon fodder scouts is that the formers were the best soldiers who are well paid for the dangers they put themselves in, whereas the latter are just some expendable Vlads and Ivans.
  Pretty sad really >
  
  Yep, the idea of joining the "forlorn hope"-squad was that you'd scale the walls first in sieges but you would also get the first spoils of looting once the city was captured aside from getting paid higher daily wages than regular mercenaries and infantry. >
  
  In the French military it also guaranteed you a promotion if you survived, regardless of if the objective was actually achieved. >
  
  Honestly that sounds like a sweet deal >
  
  The casualty rate was… not exactly low. It was basically a suicide mission. But yes, it was seen as a great deal and junior officers with ambitions and no connections literally fought each other for the opportunity. >
  
  Either you come back alive with glory and money or it's not your problem anymore. >
  
  Wouldn't that give the other inmate soldiers more initiative to revolt as soon as they get a gun in their hands? >
  
  Who said they were giving them guns. >
  
  “You wear clicky vest and run into building komrad” >
  
  “Okay, so I run in there, bomb blows up, I come back for Party and Vodka, yes?” >
  
  -_- ok yeah >
  
  Damn at least the other guys are offering virgins.
  Oh, what's that? Uh huh, ok shit they meant neckbeard virgins. Not what I was hoping for. I'll switch back to the vodka and party. 
  Gimmie the vest. >
  
  Hah, imagine the afterlife is an eternity of trying to fend off rapey advances from horny virgin swampbeasts >
  
  That’s… dark >
  
  99% chance of death or death. Those are the choices. The fact that's the options they're given is insane. >
  
  Seems like turning your gun on your commanders would be an option >
  
  Honestly.  There's more of them than the commanders.  All they have to do is frag their commander and high tail it to Ukrainian lines.  They most certainly will be treated better by Ukraine and will be free. >
  
  That one dude ran off to be captured and was traded back to Russia only to have his skull smashed on camera_