Kyiv to mobilize prisoners for war effort: A controversial strategy echoes

On Wednesday, May 8, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law allowing the release of some prisoners and offering them military contracts, marking Kyiv's latest move in recruiting prisoners into its military efforts, a strategy previously utilized by the Moscow regime. Ukraine's Minister of Justice, Denys Maluśka, hailed the decision, suggesting that up to 20,000 individuals might be deployed to the front lines.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted more than two years, the nation continues to face significant shortages, particularly in ammunition and equipment. However, these challenges have been somewhat alleviated following the United States' decision to extend nearly CAD 81 billion in aid to Kyiv at the end of April.

But the prolonged military engagement also results in exhausted and fallen soldiers. Consequently, Kyiv has taken a bold step. On May 8, the Supreme Council of Ukraine (the local parliament) endorsed legislation enabling the mobilization of convicts.

Could 20,000 prisoners join the army ranks? Kyiv is exploring scenarios. On Wednesday, the Supreme Council, Ukraine's parliament, approved a law allowing the release of certain prisoner categories to engage in military service under a contract during mobilization and a state of war—we learn from a post by Belsat television on the X platform.

Denys Maluśka, the Ukrainian Minister of Justice and one of the proposal's key advocates, highlights that amnesty won't be offered to individuals convicted of paedophilia, murder, corruption, or crimes against Ukraine's security.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 inmates could be mobilized to join the war effort against Russia. It's important to note that our country's prisons are significantly overcrowded,” says Ukrainian Minister of Justice Denys Maluśka.

Moreover, Maluśka argues for the deployment of convicts guilty of multiple homicides to the front, stipulating that the individual must have killed two or more people.

And why else should one go to war if not to kill? This is particularly true for those sentenced to life, usually for crimes committed at a very young age, between 18-19, when the brain and psyche are still developing. Decades in prison can drastically alter these individuals, making their psychological profiles vastly different from those at the time of their crimes. Any psychologist would confirm this,” the justice head contends.

This approach is not novel. "Ukrainska Pravda" reports that for about a year and a half, Moscow has been drafting its prisoners into the war, sending convicts from across Russia to fight in Ukraine. Initially, prisoners were dispatched to the Wagner Group for training before being deployed to the frontline. Subsequently, the military adopted this strategy, creating the notorious "Storm-Z" units.