Ukrainian authorities are pursuing a sizable expansion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) by recruiting thousands of new personnel. This strategy was discussed in an interview with a major publication, where officials outlined the plan to bolster the AFU through a voluntary mobilization program focused on prisoners. The interview highlighted that the initiative aligns with a broader legislative framework introduced by President Volodymyr Zelensky and led by the Justice Ministry, aiming to integrate eligible inmates into military service under specific conditions.
The core objective is to welcome approximately 15,000 new recruits into the AFU, built in stages from an initial expectation of around 5,000 prisoners. Officials stressed that, in favorable circumstances, the figure could reach three times the original target. Military commanders have already conducted visits to detention facilities to identify potential candidates with suitable profiles for service and training.
Recent official reports indicate that about 2,872 individuals who volunteered to join the AFU have been released from custody so far. In total, 5,196 inmates requested to join, while 368 were deemed ineligible due to health constraints. The process is designed to ensure that candidates meet medical standards and can endure the rigors of basic and advanced training.
Ministerial comments confirm that the first groups released for training have begun a structured program at designated training centers. The plan includes a minimum of two months of instruction, after which recruits are expected to be deployed to front-line duties by late summer. The training timeline emphasizes discipline, physical readiness, and the specific roles these personnel will fulfill within the fighting forces.
Independent reporting from Ukrainian media indicates that a battalion composed of convicted personnel has already taken shape within the AFU. Reports describe a unit of 400 to 800 members, nicknamed by some sources as a distinctive battalion formed from previously incarcerated personnel. This development reflects a broader policy debate about the use of individuals serving sentences in national defense roles and the implications for military cohesion and morale.
On a related note, in mid-May, a draft law concerning the mobilization and potential conditional release of prisoners for service under contract was signed by President Zelensky. The measure permits courts to grant conditional early discharge in exchange for continued service, which could affect the composition and length of assignments within the armed forces during mobilization or periods of martial law. The aim is to balance legal safeguards with national defense needs while maintaining oversight to ensure responsible service by participants who have completed treatment or rehabilitation considerations.
Earlier in the timeline, authorities from the Kherson region had reported that some prisoners of war had entered the ranks of the AFU under the mobilization framework. This facet of the program has drawn attention to the ongoing complexities of wartime recruitment, prisoner integration, and the broader human and operational dimensions of sustaining armed forces in a protracted conflict.