Ukraine is to start recruiting prisoners to fight against Russia under a new law designed to bolster its frontline forces, including with men convicted of murder or fraud.
Using a tactic Moscow has relied on to fill ranks since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv would begin to offer certain convicts a path to freedom if they are willing to join a combat unit.
The bill, approved on Wednesday by the Ukrainian parliament, is the latest in a series of measures aimed at mobilising more men to replace casualties and soldiers exhausted from long tours on the frontline. It still requires the signature of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter into force.
The drive to enlist convicts is expected to result in several thousand new recruits from a prison population of about 20,000, according to David Arakhamia, a senior lawmaker. That is a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of fresh soldiers Ukraine says it needs this year to hold back Moscow’s advancing forces.
@PoliticBobbyMountain2wks2W
Again, why the aversion to conscripting women who are so desperately needed?
A few thousand eligible convicts to fix a 200,000 troop deficit versus millions of eligible women?
Equal rights have been earned, the equal responsibility of defending the nation is the logical conclusion.
@Bl4ckBoxSophieDemocrat2wks2W
Im pro-ukrainian but this is a terrible look. Are the few thousand soldiers they would get worth the possible loss in support/morale by announcing this apparent desperation to the world? Things must really be tough on the frontline right now.
They are tough and you would make the same decision - Ukraine needs every trigger finger it can get - we know the horror of the alternative - it’s not a terrible look, it’s a required action - war is nasty, Western Europeans take note and toughen up
Petty crime, non violent or non sexual offences - they can volunteer
@DovesOliviaGreen2wks2W
are we really living in the twenty-first century?
Ukraine's problem with its Russian population is not a matter the UK should be involved with, and neither should we be supporting the annexation of Palestine.
It is time for the independent minded to speak out (or camp in a quad)
If we had any statesmen, then there is a vacancy for such on the world stage which at the moment is dominated by a reincarnation of Napoleon and a dippy octogenarian. Both as mad as hatters
Just a few months ago Ukrainian supporters were ridiculing Russia for doing the exact same thing - recruiting from prisons.
If by now you still haven't understood that Ukraine is nothing but a black hole for our tax dollars and that their 'victory' (I.e complete expulsion of Russia) is completely impossible then I have a bridge to sell you.
On the other hand, I'm sure plenty of the hawks goading this war further are rushing to Kiev to volunteer on the frontline? RiskAdjustedReturn and Californian Historian, where art thou....
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
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