Those very same wagner POWs are the ones saying the prisoners are basically meatshields sent out to soak bullets. There is zero intent to let them survive. Only the ones with families wealthy enough to pay bribes get to come back alive.

They write stories for the public that they are making pleas for prisoners. Just the same as they write stories that they are only conscripting 300,000 or 500,000 able bodied men of a certain age.

The reality in Russia when they show up with papers to sign is the other hand is holding a hammer.

Haha, you think they have a choice.

Its allowing a new level of control over their citizens; what they are able to do, where they are able to go. It even allows control over various factions within the CCP: toe the line or else we will lock down your city.

It may or may not be the reason for the zero covid policy, but they are absolutely exploiting it to maximize control.