Ukraine to allow some prisoners to fight in war, excludes major crimes

Ukraine is considering putting prisoners on the front line. The nation's parliament has approved a law that permits certain inmates to be released so they can serve in the military under contract during mobilization and wartime, potentially affecting up to 20,000 individuals.

"The range of detainees in correctional facilities eligible for war mobilization against Russia is between 10,000 to 20,000. Our prisons are notably overpopulated," stated Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maluska.

Specifically, pre-trial detention centres, which are severely overcrowded, particularly in major cities, are of concern. "Hence, I strongly support the mobilization of convicted individuals to avoid breaching regulations about the detention capacity per square kilometre in penal establishments," Maluska explained during an interview with the Ukrainian BBC.

The Supreme Council of Ukraine passed legislation on Wednesday, allowing the release of specific prisoner categories to engage in military service on a contract basis during mobilization and conflict times.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, exemptions from serving sentences to join the military won't be extended to individuals convicted of deliberate homicide, paedophilia, corruption, and crimes against state security. This exemption also doesn't apply to those who have held significant state positions, like ministers and deputies, or those convicted of producing, distributing, or possessing narcotics.

Maluska also mentioned that, in his view, it should be feasible to dispatch to the battlefront those imprisoned for murdering "for instance, two or more individuals."

"Why does someone go to war if not to kill? Particularly when referring to those sentenced to life imprisonment. Often, these are individuals who committed their crimes very young, at 18 or 19, when the brain isn’t fully developed and psychological stability is lacking. Decades in prison significantly alter the psychological profile of such individuals compared with when they murdered 18 or 19. Every psychologist will confirm this," argued the head of the Ukrainian Justice Department.

Source: PAP/WP