Ukraine enlists prisoners to bolster army ranks in fight against Russia

Ukrainians are patching holes in the ranks of the army. In Kyiv, nearly 4,000 prisoners were released. Their sentences will be forgotten in the case of indefinite national defence. Rapists and serial killers are excluded. The first convicts have just arrived in the Zaporizhzhia region, where they are being trained by experienced military personnel.

British The Guardian reports on a new program to fill gaps in the Ukrainian armed forces. There is a significant problem with new volunteers in Kyiv. In May, a law allowing convicts to volunteer for the military was passed. In Russia, such a system has existed since at least 2022. According to media reports, up to 100,000 prisoners have joined.

Rapists and serial killers are excluded. Those who have committed crimes against state security will not be eligible for release. The newspaper, citing the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice, reports that 5,900 people signed up, but some were rejected for health reasons.

According to The Guardian, 3,800 prisoners have already been released. Fifty-eight of them went to the Zaporizhzhia region, about 19 kilometres from the frontline, where they are learning basic infantry skills, including handling weapons and recognizing mines. They received uniforms, boots, and rifles.

People immediately started treating me with respect. The warmth was incredible. When you are in prison, you are nobody. Now I am a human again – says Volodymyr Prysiazhniuk, quoted by The Guardian. The man spent eight years in prison for a murder he committed at the age of 12.

The British portal reports that the convicts' sentences will be erased after a year, but they must fight indefinitely. They are not entitled to the twice-yearly 15-day leave period granted to regular soldiers. As a reward for good behaviour, they can meet with their families. In case of desertion, they can receive an additional 5 to 10 years in prison.

I am proud of myself. I feel a new confidence – The Guardian quotes Vladyslav Vasiliev, who was sentenced to five years in prison for theft. He left prison after three years. — Russia wants to destroy us completely. It's genocide. We must oppose them. Everyone understands that you can live today and be dead tomorrow. If everyone does something to liberate our country, it will be easier – he adds.

A former firefighter, Yevhenii Kostohryz, convicted of drug offences, was also supposed to join the military. — Some of us have military experience, others none. I want to defend my home and family – he said.

According to Denis Kravchenko, who conducts training for Ukrainian convicts, the problem of a lack of recruits could be mitigated by significant raises. Currently, a soldier's salary in Ukraine is $680 per month, and $3,400 when serving on the frontline.