Sky News told about the addition of almost 7 thousand prisoners to the ranks of the AFU

Ukraine has released 6.8 thousand prisoners to join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) since May 2024. This was reported by the British TV channel Sky News on January 29.

"As part of the prisoner recruitment campaign, about 100 criminals were released from prison and joined the 129th Brigade to learn how to operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They are among about 6.8 prisoners across Ukraine who have joined the Armed Forces," the publication said.

According to the TV channel, Ukrainians must first obtain court approval to participate in the program. If they successfully pass this stage, the prisoners sign a contract under which they commit to fight for a year without leave and serve until the end of the armed conflict. Afterward, they are to be granted parole.

It is noted that this option is allegedly not available to those convicted of serious crimes. These include murder of two or more people, violent acts of a sexual nature and high treason. At the same time, Russian security agencies earlier said that the AFU used former prisoners, including those serving sentences for serious crimes, for assaults in Kursk Region.

Goodbye, youth: Ukraine prepares for mobilization of 18-year-olds

The shortage of personnel is worsening in the AFU

Earlier, on January 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term of office expired on May 20, 2024) called the mobilization of people over the age of 25 insufficient to meet all the needs of the AFU. He also specified that the country under martial law would mobilize all available resources.

On the same day, advisor to the Department of National Security and Defense of the President's Office (OP) Mykola Shchur said that the OP will soon propose to lower the age of mobilization to 18 years. Shchur specified that the innovation would affect the possibility for men aged 18 to 25 who are not subject to mobilization to voluntarily sign a contract.

Martial law in Ukraine has been in effect since February 2022. At the same time, the country's president signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended it. Most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are forbidden to leave the country. In April 2024, the head of the Kiev regime approved the law on tougher mobilization.