The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has announced legislative steps that would allow convicts to join the country’s armed forces. Deputy Minister of Justice Elena Vysotskaya shared the update, noting that the current law does not permit convicts to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Vysotskaya explained that legal amendments have been drafted and submitted to the parliamentary committee for consideration. The changes aim to address not only individuals currently serving sentences but also those who have completed their sentences in the past.
She described the proposals as controversial, highlighting that they include narrow adjustments for convicts released from prison years ago or those convicted of specific offenses who might be eligible under new rules.
The deputy minister also indicated that the draft law on mobilization and related rules could be brought to a vote early next year, with expectations that it might pass in January or February.
In related statements, a captured Ukrainian soldier indicated that there are claims that women under the age of 60 have begun to be drafted into the military. This assertion underscores ongoing discussions surrounding mobilization practices in wartime Ukraine.
Since February 24, 2022, martial law has been in effect across Ukrainian territory. On February 25 of that year, President Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree imposing general mobilization, which included prohibitions on those liable for military service from leaving the country. In November of the following year, mobilization and martial law extended for three months, until February 14, 2024.
News from December reported that a mobilization bill was published on the Verkhovna Rada website. The document proposes that individuals on the register of persons responsible for military service would lose rights to travel abroad, access their funds, drive vehicles, conduct real estate transactions, and issue passports and foreign documents.
Former advisers to senior defense officials have stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine face ongoing challenges in fully compensating for losses incurred in the conflict, a reality shaping policy decisions and military readiness considerations across the country.