Former car thief Bohdan Filonenko responded to his fellow inmates’ criticism of his decision to join Ukraine’s military with a simple statement – “I’m not going off to die, I’m going to serve and change my life.” At 32 years old, Filonenko is one of many Ukrainian ex-convicts seeking a second chance in army service under a new law offering amnesty in exchange for military service.
Kyiv is facing challenges in recruiting enough troops to defend against Russia’s prolonged invasion, now in its 30th month with no end in sight. To bolster their ranks with motivated individuals, authorities have reached out to convicts like Filonenko, who is now training with the 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
Pavlo, a 46-year-old squad leader who only goes by his first name, had one year left to serve for assault but immediately signed up after the new law came into effect in May. “Why should strangers come to my country to destroy my land?” he questioned, emphasizing his commitment to defending Ukraine.
Under the new regulations, prisoners who agree to serve until the end of the war without leave will have their remaining sentences cleared and be granted parole. Over 3,000 ex-convicts have joined various military units, with up to 20,000 potentially eligible, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Justice Minister Denys Maliuska.
Filonenko, reflecting on the civilian atrocities during Russia’s occupation of two Kyiv suburbs, felt a strong sense of motivation to fight back. Despite his past criminal record, he found pride in his mother’s reaction to his decision to join the military, proving her doubts wrong. Sharing his story from the training ground, Filonenko highlighted the positive impact his choice had on his family.
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