In a rural penal colony in southeastern Ukraine, prisoners are being given the opportunity to seek parole in exchange for joining the fight against Russia. Ukrainian army recruiters are urging them to consider this chance to start a new life and defend their homeland with full commitment.
As Ukraine continues to face severe shortages of personnel on the battlefield after more than two years of fighting off the Russian invasion, recruitment efforts have been expanded to include the country’s prison population. Frontline commanders have openly acknowledged the challenges they are facing due to manpower shortages as Russia continues to advance westward.
More than 3,000 prisoners have already been released on parole and assigned to military units as part of a controversial mobilization bill approved by parliament. The country’s prison population of about 42,000 people includes approximately 27,000 inmates who could be eligible for this new program. The motivation for many inmates to participate in this initiative stems from a desire to return home as heroes and make a positive impact for Ukraine.
Ernest Volvach, a 27-year-old serving a two-year sentence for robbery in a penal colony in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, is eagerly taking up the offer. He believes that it is pointless to do nothing behind bars and is keen to contribute to the defense of his country with this new opportunity available to him. With this chance, Volvach sees it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact for Ukraine.