‘Characterisers’: a battalion of ex-prisoners has appeared in the Ukrainian Armed Forces
10 July 2024 11:24
ФОТО
Ukraine has formed a battalion called ‘Kharakternyky’, which consists of citizens who have served their sentences in prison. This was reported by the 24th separate mechanised brigade named after King Danylo, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“The new recruits of our brigade took the opportunity to get a second chance and join the sacred duty in the great war for independence. It should be noted that there are many patriots among them who have repeatedly expressed a desire to defend their homeland. There are many people with combat experience,”
– the 24th Brigade said in a statement.
It is noted that they have already taken the Military Oath of Allegiance to the Ukrainian people and said the prayer of a Ukrainian nationalist.
In the near future, the Characterisers will begin to perform combat missions and prove themselves on the battlefield.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Justice estimates that about 27,000 prisoners could potentially be eligible for parole in exchange for service in the army.
At the same time, some convicts in conversations with journalists said they were not ready to agree to conditions without the right to leave and with the obligation to serve until the end of the war, as stipulated in the law on the mobilisation of prisoners.
Mobilisation of convicts
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted draft law No. 11079-1 on the mobilisation of certain categories of convicts.
Prisoners who express a desire to be mobilised will be able to serve after a court decision and a military qualification examination. But their sentence should not exceed three years .
One of the authors of the draft law, Olena Shulyak, said that the released criminals would serve in special units.
At the same time, not all prisoners will be able to join the Armed Forces. The exceptions are those who:
- Imprisoned for offences against the foundations of national security of Ukraine;
- Imprisoned for the intentional murder of two or more persons, or combined with rape;
- Imprisoned for sexual violence;
- Has a criminal conviction for committing criminal offences under Articles 152-1561, 258-2586, part four of Article 2861 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, unless such convictions have been cancelled or removed in accordance with the procedure established by law.
It should be noted that on 13 March, the Verkhovna Rada registered draft law No. 11079 on the conditional early release of convicts from serving their sentences for military service.
Kommersant Ukrainsky published an article about who can be released and sent to the frontline and who is not eligible for parole, the pros and cons of such an initiative, and whether paedophiles and murderers can really be released.
