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Ukraine is releasing thousands of prisoners so they can join the fight against Russia
World

Ukraine is releasing thousands of prisoners so they can join the fight against Russia

  • By VASILISA STEPANENKO, EVGENIY MALOLETKA and DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press

Ukraine is expanding its military recruiting to cope with battlefield shortages more than two years into fighting Russia's full-scale invasion. That, for the first time, includes inmates at the country's prisons and penal colonies. Prisoners can be granted parole after an interview, medical exam, and a review of their conviction, under a new law approved by parliament last month. Certain categories of serious offenders are excluded. Olena Vysotska, Ukraine's deputy justice minister, told The Associated Press that more than 3,000 prisoners have already been released on parole and have been placed with military units.

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