More than 2,750 inmates released from Ukrainian prisons to participate in war – the WP

Over 2,750 convicted men have been released from Ukrainian prisons to join the combat action.

Source: The Washington Post

Details: Denys Maliuska, the Minister of Justice of Ukraine, stated in a comment for WP that at least 4000 convicts were likely to become volunteers at the first recruitment stage. For the time being, the convicts will only serve in assault units completely composed of former inmates.

Quote: "The motivation of our inmates is stronger than that of our ordinary soldiers. Their release is only one part of their motivation: they want to protect their country, and they want to turn the page [on their past]."

More details: Those who have murdered more than one person, committed acts of sexual violence or violated national security laws are ineligible for military service. Any prisoner signing up to fight must be physically fit, pass a psychological exam and be under 57, allowing him to serve at least three years before hitting the exemption age of 60.

Maliuska states that there is competition between certain military commanders eager to hire former inmates for military service.

"There is a competition between military commanders to hire [prisoners]. There is a lack of manpower, so they are very keen to get the access to prisons", he said.

Background:

• On 8 May, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law providing for the voluntary mobilisation of certain categories of convicts. Persons who have committed premeditated murders, rapists, paedophiles, those convicted of the illegal production, acquisition, distribution or storage of drugs, those who have committed crimes against the national security of Ukraine, and former officials cannot be conscripted into the Defence Forces.
• All others who are potentially liable for military service are subject to the same condition: they must have no more than three years left to serve on their sentence.
• Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska believes that 10,000 to 20,000 convicts could be conscripted from the prison system, not least because Ukraine's detention facilities are overcrowded.
• On 21 May, it was reported that over 3,000 Ukrainian convicts had applied for conditional early release to participate in the defence of Ukraine.

• A total of 613 inmates have been released from prisons and joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of 28 May.

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