Russia is recruiting women out of prisons to serve as front-line medics. A new investigation documents rape by commanders and criminal cases against the women who report it.

In 2024, Russia's Defense Ministry initiated an experiment called "Choice," which involved recruiting women from women's penal colonies to serve as front-line medics. The investigation by the independent Russian news outlet Verstka detailed the allegations of rape by commanders and the subsequent criminal cases against the women who reported it.

The first group of convicted women was recruited from penal colonies in Russia's Southern Federal District and assigned to tactical medicine units near the front. However, the source noted that there was no selection process or training, and many of the women died due to various factors, including drunken self-inflicted gunshot wounds, grenade injuries, drug overdoses, and violence. The women assigned to the units reportedly disregarded the advice given by the instructors, who warned them not to go near the front line.

One of the women, Lyudmila Poltarakova, who had a background in martial arts and sports, signed a contract and was assigned to the 370th Medical Battalion in the annexed Luhansk region. There, she was assigned to the 12th Tank Regiment of the Kantemirovskaya Division, where her battalion commander, Sergei Zhitkov, began summoning her to his trench for "medical massages."

Poltarakova alleged that Zhitkov raped her multiple times in February and March 2025, and that others in the regiment also witnessed the assaults. Despite her claims, Poltarakova signed a statement denying any complaints against Zhitkov, fearing that publicity would negatively impact her future service and the opportunity to clear her conviction.

In June 2026, Poltarakova filed a rape complaint with the deputy military prosecutor and shared her story publicly.