The Russian government plans to create 24 penal colonies in the occupied territories of Ukraine, according to a Kremlin decree published on January 24, cited by the Kyiv Independent.

Prison in RussiaPhoto: Russian Look Ltd. / Alamy / Profimedia Images

Moscow plans to create 12 colonies in eastern Donetsk Oblast, about half of which are occupied, seven in neighboring Luhansk Oblast, most of which are occupied, three in southern Kherson Oblast and two in southeastern Zaporizhia Oblast, as well as a resort colony in the region. region.

According to the decree, the Kremlin also plans to create in the occupied territories of Ukraine three “medical correctional institutions” and three “correctional centers” for prisoners suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental disorders.

In Russia, these people usually serve their sentences in specialized institutions, and not in traditional prisons.

As of November, there were 626 colonies in Russia, which means an average of about seven colonies per region, according to the independent Russian publication Meduza.