Zelenskyy signs law on mobilization of convicts

This is stated in the card of the draft law No.11079-1.

From now on, convicts will have the opportunity to be released on parole to serve in the army on a contract basis.

However, according to the law, only those who have been sentenced to restriction of liberty or imprisonment under minor articles can use this option.

At the same time, those imprisoned for the premeditated murder of two or more people, rape, sexual violence and crimes against national security will not be able to be drafted. Corrupt officials are also not allowed to commute their sentences to military service.

• In February, the head of the Ministry of Justice, Denys Malyuska, announced the need to mobilize convicts. According to him, thousands of convicts have expressed a desire to join the Armed Forces. Later, it became known that the Defense Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament was considering the mobilization of convicts.
• Subsequently, the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, stated that the total number of prisoners who could potentially be mobilized into the Armed Forces was 15,000-20,000.
• On May 17, Deputy Minister of Justice Olena Vysotska stated that the most important criterion for selecting prisoners for mobilization is motivation, and that a convict's lack of desire to go to war could prevent this.