From prison to the front: 13% of Ukrainian prisoners chose freedom and service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

A contract has already been signed with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in exchange for the freedom of 3,611 prisoners in Ukrainian prisons – the law has provided them with this opportunity.

Data leads NGL.media, clarifying that this law only concerns certain groups of convicts:

“An analysis of the court registry shows that 3,611 convicts have already taken advantage of this opportunity in three months. This is more than 13% of the total number of prisoners in Ukrainian colonies – according to the Ministry of Justice, as of May 15, there were 27,471 convicts in Ukrainian colonies and prisons. The government expects to mobilize at least 4,000 convicts, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska said earlier. This is essentially a full-fledged separate brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

The publication reports that the greatest number of people wishing to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine was in the second half of May, when the law came into force:

“If we analyze the nature of the crimes committed by former prisoners, the vast majority of them were convicted of theft, robbery, assault or serious bodily harm – including those resulting in the death of the victim. Almost all of them will serve exclusively in rifle positions. Judging by court rulings, only a few will serve as drivers, orderlies or cooks.”

In May our publication toldthat Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the Law on the Mobilization of Prisoners. This is evidenced by the information posted on May 17, 2024, in the map of law No. 11079-1 on the website of the Verkhovna Rada. It allows certain categories of prisoners to be mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On May 8, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the corresponding bill in the second reading. Defense Ministry spokesman Dmytro Lazutkin said that convicted Ukrainians mobilized into the army will serve in special units.

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