Ukraine announced the timing of the adoption of a bill on the mobilization of convicts

A bill on the mobilization of Ukrainian convicts may be submitted to the Rada next week

A bill on the mobilization of Ukrainian convicts may be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada next week, said Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denis Malyuska.

According to him, parliamentarians may have time to pass the relevant law before the end of spring. He also noted that, at the request of the military, the law will not apply to those convicted of violating military discipline, as well as committing crimes related to military service and statehood.

“Such categories most likely will not fall under mobilization,” said Malyuska, noting that the last word on this issue will be with the Rada deputies. At the same time, he said that mobilized convicts would not be welcome everywhere, and allowed the possibility of creating units only from mobilized convicts.

Previously, Malyuska stated that at least 50 thousand men of military age with expunged criminal records are hiding from conscription and have not registered for military service. According to him, this category of people can be considered quite safe for others, but they “somehow” hide from military commissars.

Martial law has been declared in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and general mobilization was announced the next day. The country legally prohibits men aged 18 to 60 from traveling abroad, and summonses are handed out in a variety of places. Previously, a bill on the mobilization of men abroad was announced in Ukraine, which also provides for receiving summonses and undergoing mobilization. It also became known that disabled people of the 3rd group were no longer allowed to travel abroad to Ukraine, and from January 1 it was planned to close travel for disabled people of groups 1-2.

It was also reported that in 2023, more than 220 groups were identified in Ukraine that transported army evaders abroad. After the start of the SVO, the Ukrainian border service detained more than 17 thousand Ukrainians attempting to illegally travel abroad, The Times reported. The services of “guides” cost about $3.5-5 thousand; for this money they promise to take the draft dodger across the border or buy him fake documents. “The numbers looking to leave look set to increase as a controversial new bill seeks to mobilize an additional 500,000 people,” the article said.