The Ukrainian Armed Forces has recruited more than 8,000 former convicts as of early April, according to a report from the country’s justice department.
The update stated that the first batch of these volunteers was inducted into combat units in August last year through a parole grant.
Units that incorporated these troops include frontline assault brigades such as the 1st Separate Assault Battalion “Da Vinci,” the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade “Ivan Sirko,” and the 93rd Mechanized Brigade “Kholodny Yar,” among others.
Kyiv said that many of these soldiers have already received state awards for their actions on the battlefield, particularly in the country’s ongoing defenses against Russia.
As of today, the government is processing 900 applications for parole and early release for military service.
Clemency for Potential Troops
Ukraine’s framework for enlisting ex-prisoners is part of a state law signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in May 2024.
The legislation allows individuals convicted of minor offenses to be granted parole by court order and serve in the military under contract.
Those eligible for the program are limited to individuals sentenced for minor crimes, while those imprisoned for felonies are excluded.
Convicts guilty of serious corruption crimes or traffic violations committed under the influence are also barred from applying.
The contract-based enlistment process includes reviews by penitentiary institutions, medical examinations, and court approval, with the Ukrainian Central Military District overseeing the mobilization of selected individuals.
Enlisted personnel who commit desertion will face up to 10 additional years of incarceration, in addition to serving the remainder of their original sentence.
In a 2024 interview, Ukraine’s former justice minister Denys Malyuska told the BBC that the country aims to enlist between 10,000 and 20,000 ex-prisoners into the armed forces.
