In response to rising tensions in eastern Ukraine, the government has decided to expand the mobilization process, now including convicts and prisoners. This move is part of a strategy to strengthen the country's defense capabilities and ensure its security in the face of military threats.
Special Amnesty Program
Thus, 2,750 male prisoners expressed their desire to mobilize in exchange for freedom. At the same time, to fill the acute shortage of infantry, Ukraine decided to release convicted criminals who agree to fight in assault brigades .
This applies to those offenders who participate in the relevant amnesty program.
“The motivation of our prisoners is stronger than that of our ordinary soldiers… Their release is only one part of the motive. They want to protect their country and they want to turn the page ,” said Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Malyuska.
Separate units of prisoners
The commander of the 2nd Assault Battalion of the 3rd Special Forces Brigade, Dmytro Kukharchuk, call sign "Slip", stated in an interview with Army TV that creating separate units from former prisoners (as was done in Russia and is proposed in Ukrainian law) is unacceptable.
In this case, according to the military man, unmotivated men may discourage those who are patriotic from fighting
"And if someone wants to implement such a concept, then we must remember that about 700 thousand people were imprisoned in Russian prisons, and 30 thousand in Ukrainian prisons, so the story about "meat stormings" is unrealistic for Ukraine. Such an approach would have a very negative image for Ukraine in the international arena ," Kukharchuk emphasized.
At the same time, the soldier realizes that not everything will be perfect, because the prisoners may:
- unauthorized abandonment of the unit;
- poor performance at the front.
However, the fighters of the Third Assault Brigade have already visited all prisons in the country and conducted interviews with potential soldiers.
"A person has come - he may wash away his sins, if they are truly sins, with blood, and if they are not sins, then he proves to society that he is innocent ," added Kukharchuk.
Which convicts cannot be mobilized?
We previously wrote that according to the law on the mobilization of convicts, the following cannot be included in the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
- convicted of crimes against the foundations of national security of Ukraine;
- convicted of committing the intentional murder of two or more persons;
- convicted of intentional homicide combined with rape or sexual assault;
- convicted of criminal offenses provided for in Articles 152-1561, 258-2586, Part Four of Article 2861 of this Code.
In addition, convicts and prisoners, like any conscripts, must pass a military medical examination before going on duty, and they must also obtain consent from unit commanders to take them on.
