Nearly 5,000 inmates in Ukraine have expressed willingness to join the military in exchange for parole were the relevant law to be enacted.
Olena Vysotska, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Justice, revealed that in an April survey prisoners were asked if a law on early release should be adopted in exchange for military service. Approximately 4,500 convicts responded positively.
She clarified that the survey did not consider inmates under certain sections of the Criminal Code exempt from mobilization, nor did it evaluate their health conditions. However, roughly 4,000 convicts diagnosed with illnesses such as HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis were deemed ineligible.
According to Ministry of Justice data, as of May 15, 2024, Ukrainian prisons housed 27,471 inmates, including 1,538 women.
Vysotska emphasized the necessity of supplementary regulations for the law’s effective implementation, estimating that its full enactment would occur within a few weeks.
Mobilization of convicts
The Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has advanced a draft law regarding the mobilization of inmates, which has passed its second reading and now awaits President Zelenskyy’s signature.
Under the proposed legislation, prisoners would have the opportunity to join the military for contractual service and subsequently be granted parole. However, certain exceptions will apply, preventing all convicts from participating in frontline duties.
As per the Minister of Justice, an estimated 10-20 thousand convicts in Ukraine could potentially be mobilized in the future.
The Ministry of Defense clarified that mobilized inmates would be assigned to specialized units.
She clarified that the survey did not consider inmates under certain sections of the Criminal Code exempt from mobilization, nor did it evaluate their health conditions. However, roughly 4,000 convicts diagnosed with illnesses such as HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis were deemed ineligible.
According to Ministry of Justice data, as of May 15, 2024, Ukrainian prisons housed 27,471 inmates, including 1,538 women.
Vysotska emphasized the necessity of supplementary regulations for the law’s effective implementation, estimating that its full enactment would occur within a few weeks.
Mobilization of convicts
The Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has advanced a draft law regarding the mobilization of inmates, which has passed its second reading and now awaits President Zelenskyy’s signature.
Under the proposed legislation, prisoners would have the opportunity to join the military for contractual service and subsequently be granted parole. However, certain exceptions will apply, preventing all convicts from participating in frontline duties.
As per the Minister of Justice, an estimated 10-20 thousand convicts in Ukraine could potentially be mobilized in the future.
The Ministry of Defense clarified that mobilized inmates would be assigned to specialized units.
Source: RBC-Ukraine
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