Ukraine Approves Mobilization of Prisoners

(Patria) - The Ukrainian parliament has passed a measure allowing the military mobilization of some prisoners in exchange for conditional release.

More than 26 months since the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has been trying to compensate for a shortage of soldiers, which some military analysts consider Kyiv's biggest challenge in fighting a much larger enemy.

- The new measure is expected to boost the armed forces by only a few thousand out of a total of 20,000 prisoners - said MP David Arakhamia.

The measure does not apply to those who have committed the most serious crimes, convicted of premeditated murder of two or more persons, rape, sexual violence, crimes against national security, and serious corruption offenses.