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Ukraine to use criminals in fight against Russia in move ‘necessary to survive total war’

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The Ukrainian parliament has voted to use criminals to fight on the front lines against Russian troops.

The bill on the voluntary mobilization of convicts passed its second reading on Wednesday and will now go before the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to be signed into law.

Olena Shulyak, deputy head of the ‘Servant of the People’ party, said the move was necessary to survive “a total war against a more resourceful enemy.”

She added that “this draft law is about our struggle and preservation of Ukrainian statehood.”

The draft law will prohibit the mobilization of those convicted of serious offenses, including rape, murder, corruption, and sexual abuse of children.

Those serving life sentences will also be prohibited, but Shulyak said those convicted of involuntary manslaughter would be eligible.

She added that although the scheme was voluntary, prisoners would need a court approval before being released on parole.

All convicts who are accepted will be assigned to specialized military units.
Source: Kyiv Post
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