Ukraine War Latest News: Ukraine to Let Murderers Into Army as Prisoners Freed

Ukrainian convicts – including murderers – were released to fight against Russia

Ukrainian convicts are offered their freedom in exchange for their service in the war against Russian invaders, including the murderers.

People convicted of rape, sexual assault, murder two or more persons or crimes against the national security of Ukraine are not eligible.

Associated Press journalists visited a rural penal colony in southeastern Ukraine.

They saw several inmates gather next to a barbed-wire fence to hear an army recruiter offer them a chance at parole.

“You can end this and start a new life,” the recruiter said.

“The main thing is your will, because you are going to defend the homeland. You will not succeed with 50%, you must give 100%, even 150%.”

It comes as Ukraine expands its military recruitment criteria to address growing casualties, battlefield shortages and the need for rest for frontline troops.

And its recruiting efforts have turned, for the first time, to the country’s prison population.

Prisoners may be eligible for parole after an interview, medical examination and review of their conviction.

Once selected, parolees are rushed to basic training in camps where they learn weapon handling and other combat fundamentals before joining their units.

More than 3,000 prisoners have already been paroled and assigned to military units after such recruitment was approved by parliament in a controversial mobilization bill last month, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister told AP. Justice Olena Vysotska.

According to Justice Department estimates, some 27,000 additional inmates could potentially benefit from the new program.

“A lot of the motivation comes from the fact that inmates want to return home as heroes, not return home after being released from prison,” Ms. Vysotska said.

However, Ukrainian officials are keen to distinguish between the Russian version of the programme, which saw thousands of convicts join the notorious Wagner mercenary group.

These prisoners-turned-soldiers were sent en masse into the most brutal battles, but the Ukrainian program aims to integrate the prisoners into regular front-line units.

The country has a prison population of around 42,000 people, according to figures provided by the government to the EU.