Ukraine estimates that around 3,800 prisoners are already part of the Armed Forces

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Jul 23. () –

According to the Secretary of the National Security, Defence and Intelligence Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, Roman Kostenko, about 3,800 Ukrainian prisoners are already part of the country’s Armed Forces in the framework of the war, which began at the end of February 2022 by order of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

“There are already 3,800 prisoners in the armed forces. Most of them have just finished their training,” Kostenko told local newspaper Pravda, adding that some of them have already been wounded or killed at the front.

Kostenko also acknowledged that the demand for convicts to be recruited for the Ukrainian Armed Forces has decreased as most of the volunteers have already joined the military service. However, he estimates that another 1,200 may still be able to enlist.

In early May, the Ukrainian parliament approved a law providing for the voluntary mobilization of certain categories of prisoners, excluding those convicted of murder, pedophilia or crimes against national security. The rest will only be able to enlist if they have less than three years left to serve their sentence.