In a bold move to bolster its military forces, Ukraine has introduced a new scheme offering parole to convicts who are willing to join the fight. This initiative, announced by a regional court on May 22, comes at a crucial time when Kyiv urgently needs more troops on the front lines.
With over 3,000 convicts showing their readiness to enlist following the new law’s implementation, Ukraine’s recruitment strategy resembles Russia’s controversial practice of sending prisoners to fight in exchange for promises of amnesty since the invasion began in February 2022.
The Khmelnytsky court granted parole to two men convicted of theft, allowing them to join the National Guard. These individuals, born in 2000 and 1981, met the required health and fitness standards for military service.
This parole scheme, available to convicts with less than three years left on their sentences, aims to relieve the strain on Ukraine’s military forces. Unlike Russia, which offers pardons, Ukraine’s program grants parole, not a full pardon, aiming to avoid the post-service criminal incidents reported in Russia’s system.
The recent law allows prisoners to join the Armed Forces voluntarily, with some restrictions on serious offenses, but even individuals convicted of murder can apply, under specific conditions.