Ukraine is releasing thousands of prisoners so they can join the fight against Russia
Ukraine is expanding the draft to cope with acute battlefield shortages more than two years into fighting against Russia’s full-scale invasion. And its recruiting efforts have turned, for the first time, to the country’s prison population.
More than 3,000 prisoners already have been released on parole and assigned to military units after such recruitment was approved by parliament in a controversial mobilization bill last month, Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Olena Vysotska told The Associated Press.
About 27,000 inmates could potentially be eligible for the new program, according to Justice Ministry estimates.
“A lot of the motivation comes from (inmates) wanting to return home a hero, and not to return home from prison,” Vysotska said.