Ukraine is releasing prisoners with combat military backgrounds so that they can join the war against Russia.
News of this unprecedented move was first reported by Russian state-owned propaganda channel RT, supposedly quoting an official in Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office on Sunday, Feb. 27.
The news was not widely reported as it could be construed as Russian misinformation to obfuscate events on the ground.
However, it appears the decision to allow inmates to take up arms to fight for Ukraine and be pardoned is real.
A defense reporter with The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian publication, tweeted about the plan on Feb. 28.
Ukrainian prison inmates with combat experience are to be released under commitment to fight for the country
— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) February 28, 2022
This was followed shortly after with a tweet by the official Kyiv Independent Twitter account.
Zelensky: Ukraine to release prisoners with combat experience.
Zelensky said it was a difficult moral choice but that it was necessary for the country’s defense. He said the prisoners will be fighting in the hottest spots.
“The key is defense now.”
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 28, 2022
The tweet quoted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky who reportedly said it was a difficult moral choice but that it was necessary for the country’s defense.
He said the prisoners will be fighting in the hottest spots: “The key is defense now.”
Immediate details were not readily available.
This news comes together with major announcements by the Ukrainian administration.
Zelensky has requested for immediate European Union membership, which would infuriate Moscow further.
Zelensky asks the EU for membership.
“We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure,” said Zelensky in a video address.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 28, 2022
He has also told Russian troops to lay down arms and desert the military as Ukrainian and Russian delegations were set to hold talks on Moscow’s invasion.
#UPDATE Ukraine’s president Volodymr Zelensky has urged Russian soldiers to lay down their weapons and desert as Ukrainian and Russian delegations were set to hold talks on Moscow’s invasion pic.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 28, 2022
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