Approximately 3,800 Prisoners Released in Ukraine to Serve in Armed Forces: Guardian

Approximately 3,800 Ukrainian prisoners have been released early under a newly approved mobilization law in Ukraine to fill gaps in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces, reports the Guardian.

According to the publication, citing the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice, 5,900 detainees expressed interest in joining the Ukrainian armed forces, although some were rejected due to health conditions. Earlier, the British Financial Times reported, citing Ukrainian Justice Minister Denis Malyuska, that Ukrainian authorities hope to enlist around 15,000 convicts into the ranks of the armed forces.

It is worth noting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill to mobilize criminals serving sentences in penal facilities. On May 30, Ukraine's Deputy Justice Minister Yelena Vysotskaya announced that around 4,000 prisoners expressed a desire to serve in the Ukrainian armed forces. At the same time, by the end of May, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine stated that nearly 800 convicts had already joined the armed forces.

Moreover, in mid-June, CNN reported, citing Justice Minister Denis Malyuska, that the first group of mobilized Ukrainian prisoners was already undergoing preparation, and since the law came into effect, nearly 5,000 prisoners had applied to join the armed forces. Almost 2,000 have passed medical commissions and have been released by the court for mobilization.