Kyiv Contemplates Sending Nearly a Third of Prison Population to the High Court

Ukrainian officials propose to enlist 20% to 30% of convicted criminals into the armed forces of Ukraine. This assertion emerged from Eugenii Pikalov, the Deputy Minister of Justice. Evidently, Volodymyr Zelensky authorized the conscription of inmates from correctional facilities last year.

, and ASMedia

2025 May 7 . 8:50 PM

2 min read

Convicts Getting a Second Chance: Training with Ukraine's Armed Forces

Kyiv Contemplates Sending Nearly a Third of Prison Population to the High Court

Stepping into the realm of unconventional solutions, Ukrainian authorities are mulling over a unique proposal: sending 20-30% of convicts to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This intriguing proposition was put forth by Deputy Minister of Justice, Yevgeny Pikalov.

Last year, a transformative shift took place under President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, as he approved the mobilization of convicts from prisons. Since then, more than 8,300 convicts, including 100 women, have sworn to serve in the AFU.

As Pikalov explained, "We are optimistic about the potential impact of this initiative. Based on our estimates, around 20-30% of our total prisoner population could seize this opportunity to defend their nation."

Currently, Ukraine houses close to 37,000 prisoners. However, not everyone who is behind bars can be mobilized. For instance, those found guilty of severe crimes like terrorism and violations of national security are ineligible for this program.

Interestingly, since the law allowing certain criminal groups to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces was passed on May 17, 2024, a staggering 8,300 Ukrainian convicts have already been mobilized. Moreover, there are another 1,000 applications currently under review.

Zoya Oskolkova, Kyiv

The initiatives of Ukrainian authorities regarding convicts include training with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), as already over 8,300 convicts, including 100 women, have been mobilized under President Volodmyr Zelensky's leadership.
The Deputy Minister of Justice, Yevgeny Pikalov, proposed that 20-30% of convicts could potentially serve in the AFU, barring those convicted of severe crimes like terrorism and violations of national security.
As of now, Ukraine has close to 37,000 prisoners, with about 8,300 already trained and 1,000 more applications for leeway under consideration.
This unconventional approach is attributed to political maneuvers, as Ukraine navigates war-and-conflicts with its strategic decisions, highlighted as a general news topic.