Ukraine's prisoners offered freedom at a high price: Joining the fight against Russia

Ukraine is expanding the draft 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. Read more: bit.ly/4cnX0X9
(AP video shot by Vasilisa Stepanenko and Anton Shtuka, Production by Volodymyr Yurchuk)
#russiaukrainewar #ukraine #news
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This video may be available for archive licensing via newsroom.ap.org/home

[@jasonwright8546]

Russia was, rightly, admonished in the media for doing this same thing. Now the media supports it when Ukraine does it. Let's remember that the result for Russia was that almost all of them ended up dead, and the program was cancelled.

[@Insane_ForJesus]

This is voluntary

[@jasonwright8546]

@@Insane_ForJesus The program mentioned here is, but forced conscription is taking place all over Ukraine. Average time for a conscript to be processed and be on the frontlines is 4 days. Once they get there, their average life expectancy is 3 hours. Most of these men have never even touched a gun before, so the lack of training, especially in this kind of warfare is devastating.

[@Insane_ForJesus]

@@jasonwright8546 Where is your evidence that they are only trained 4 days? Also do you think Russia is any better? They are worse.

[@jasonwright8546]

@@Insane_ForJesus First hand accounts from men who were on the frontlines. Videos are out there from them describing the situation. Also, unit commanders have issued complaints about the lack of training, and quality, of conscripts coming to them. Many of whom are heavily disabled. Russia not only fully trains troops, they also regularly pull troops back from the front, and update their training with new tactics developed from study of the conflict.

[@Insane_ForJesus]

@@jasonwright8546 That's not evidence. I am asking you for actual sources I can look at and not hearsay.

[@fredo1070]

Well that's one way of reducing the prison population.

[@realtalk5329]

That is not their intention guy

[@spitfire3797]

@@realtalk5329Well they sound desperate if they need prisoners for soldiers lol.

[@realtalk5329]

@@spitfire3797 so what if ukraine is desperate for soldiers? they do need them. As long as they are not obtaining soldiers immorally who cares?

[@Joaquin546]

Russia sent theirs to the frontlines a year ago

[@nikitazubin3415]

These are the same clowns that stage Bucha

[@DeadPixel1105]

I remember when everyone was mocking Russia for using convicts for the war effort. My my, how the tables have turned.

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

Using convicts for a mercenary band, more specifically. A mercenary band run by a man with "1940s German symbolism" tattooed on his chest and shoulders.

[@nobody6794]

@@Thor.Jorgensen ...and not to defend their country from invaders, but to invade another country.

[@I666I]

@@nobody6794 To be honest, most of them would have fought for the other side aswell, if they would have been the ones who gave them their freedom back. Missed chance for Russia.

[@jackiechan-sn3em]

@@I666ILOL Russia doesn’t need help lol 1 country vs NATO LOL

[@dangerdan2592]

​@@jackiechan-sn3emIf it was actually Russia vs NATO, Russia would already be pushed out of Ukraine. You really think this is NATO vs Russia? Lol. Please don't lie to yourself.

[@codewx]

Id be interested out of the 5000 signees how many actually died with one month of enlisting

[@jay-t1030]

Why not just draft Ukraine women, women and men are equal right? 🧐

[@bobgreen9980]

Dumb

[@johndreger2193]

They're mostly passed on at this point, Trump's there only hope 🎉

[@alexworrell5778]

There are Ukranian women in the military. Both in supporting roles and on the frontline. Just search "ukraine female soldiers". There's lots of them.

[@vinsok-wg7lh]

Only for usa laws

[@pimpinace_175]

@@bobgreen9980 why dumb?

[@brendasmart553]

It is their choice to do or not do this.

[@henlohenlo689]

not if it's "undue influence" involved in the contract offered. then it's illegal contract. illegal to prey upon people's vulnerability like this in the making of such contracts. of course wouuld say yes, they don't know what's happening and are the most vulnerable population.

[@Ghost-sz2qm]

@@henlohenlo689they know what’s happening. Eastern Europeans understand their history of war. U.s will do the same when the time comes. No one is exempt from war, not even women or children….when it comes to your doorsteps.

[@henlohenlo689]

@@Ghost-sz2qm nato took control of ukraine through buy outs, killings, bribes. same fact patterns with idf and isreal, and also taiwan is in the early stages of proxy conversion also they been sending funds for taiwan same fact pattern but early stages of it. it has little to do with their own country it is usa violating international laws and vicariously liable for what the proxies do. usa is sending money weapons orders and instructions. its usa wars using proxies. all people in ukraine are forced to flee or die. once the genocide is complete the globalists will ship ukraines food and resources to "developing" countries far outside of europe and the local areas to do far less efficient trading in the name of greed.

[@NotaGabeItch]

@@Ghost-sz2qmFacts

[@realtalk5329]

​@@henlohenlo689they only offer to people that are going to get out relatively soon so they really are volunteering

[@hamedhosseini4938]

Zelensky said only 50k Ukrainians died and that they have up to 1m soldiers + reserve. Care to explain why tf then they are resorting to recruting prisoners?

[@longestvideoever]

Propaganda bro. Every country does it

[@alabamaisyourdaddy6137]

It’s called propaganda

[@XxXx-nw1of]

Zelensky is Cloun & henchman of america 🤡🤠😜

[@TeamAmericaWorldPolice]

Both sides don't claim losses accurately at all. You can only tell what's going on through territory maps and videos.

[@vojvoda9060]

Hahah....nice question 😂

[@trevorsutherland5263]

Already last week on Telegram channels were many reports of prisoners running away from the training centers; they don't even bother wait to be sent to the Front to try to run away or surrender. Who could blame them?

[@Joshcanberra]

Please... I want a name😅

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

MISINFORMATION REPORTED.

[@fungunsun1]

Source: Andrei Amerikanski from Texas, Tver Oblast

[@Booz2020]

Indoensians : Stand With Palestine, Trade with 🇨🇳, URra 🇷🇺, End 🇺🇸 Support to Israel 🗣️ Also Indoensians : Guys please, move to BALI 🤯

[@jonronaldflores3007]

you probably mized up the news those were prisoners in russia avoiding being sent to Ukraine

[@bleaaarghh]

Pure hypocrisy

[@Whocaresfrfrfrim]

Remember when the Ukraine bots were making fun of Russia for doing this😂😂😂

[@Privateinvite]

Here's your second chance, don't waste your blessings.

[@liuxiangcheng6458]

hahaha, they used to laugh at the Russians for recruiting prisoners into Wagner, but now they repeat it themselves

[@westoftherockies]

big difference, the ukraininans are fighting for their freedom..the russian's aren't.

[@user-zo1zq3qt4b]

​@@westoftherockies The big difference is Russians are fighting for Russia but the Ukrainians are fighting for US interest😂😂

[@spitfire3797]

@@westoftherockiesLol it’s a big difference when Ukraine does it but when Russia does it oh it’s funny lol I love you hypocrites that whine 😂

[@wildwolf9649]

@@westoftherockies lol

[@leandoer3522]

@@user-zo1zq3qt4b How is defending your “OWN” land an interest to US? I mean srsly, how low can you go?

[@robertgibson-wz5ji]

I love how ukraine slammed russia for doing this but ukraine does it, seems to be no problem? Odd don't you think? Who's "cannon fodder" now?

[@michaelwilson9921]

The famous double standard as always!

[@magistic345]

​@@michaelwilson9921they learnt them from America

[@IfYouSeeThisYouredooda]

Russia is still the one that started the war they get the blame for everything

[@Sureyoudo]

​@@magistic345You need to learnt it from someone!

[@alexworrell5778]

Yep. Ukraine needs soldiers and they will get anyone they can get. At least for Ukraine it makes a bit more sense. This is an existential war for them, whereas Russia is engaging in conquest. I don't see anything inherently wrong with using prisoners as soldiers assuming they're non-violent offenders. But the use of them by Ukraine speaks to the desperation in manpower. Lots of videos of Ukranian military recruiters taking guys off the streets too. I don't think this war ends with Ukraine having more land than it started with. Western support is waning and Russia's military is (Unfortunately) only getting stronger. Or rather their infrastructure and manufacturing is. Thousands more will lose their lives over this nonsense.

[@Grandizer8989]

During WW2, Zhukov cleared German minefields with the bare feet of Penal Battalions. And being maimed in Russia was worse than death because for some reason, you were an outcast.

[@Koz4concern]

What part of Russia are you from?

[@qwertyasdf9254]

Тебе эту историю в американском учебнике рассказали?😂 Иди к маме не позорься

[@user-jestonyroma]

Very sad for these marginalized men. The cost of war.

[@randyo5540]

Future meat shields.

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

Meanwhile in Vovchansk. Russia's most famous tactical battalion group the 87th Airborne just got defeated by those Ukrainian prisoners.

[@Cotac_Rastic]

​@@Anti_Putin_Russian Is this like wizard of oz where if you say it 3 times it becomes true?

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

@@Cotac_Rastic It doesn't matter what you say because it happen and you know it. Everyone including Vova the Kremlin finger painter knows it too.

[@Cotac_Rastic]

@@Anti_Putin_Russian LoL sure, you just had a Russian agent given IMMUNITY pn all charges and actions while in office 😂😂

[@beijingbrandon6220]

@@Anti_Putin_Russian Cope

[@chillxxx241]

They should see if there are any prison volunteers from EU states that would want to join.

[@vitbur]

Now they're resorting to the inmates. But they tell you they'll surely win like tomorrow.

[@LB-ye1fj]

russia resorted to the starved citizens of north korea... your point?

[@CGplay186]

@@LB-ye1fj no one is starving in north korea, people made their own food without western corporations just fine in the past, that why they usually dont let other live there so capitalist don't come and ruin that country as well, north korea is a paradise but of course the captalist don´t want you to know that people can make just fine without them and of course they want to portray them as bad so you don't get any ideas

[@wowulam7411]

​​@@CGplay186 you are in too deep in a rabbit hole to say that north korea is not starving. The US send them food since 1996 and they still starving even till to this day.

[@Bigglawhisky]

russia did the same,so whats your point?

[@shinji1264]

Russia did that last year, and Ukraine is only resorting to it now... So who's winning

[@nazistowskisnob543]

Fab 3000 is waiting for you, no respite just being clobbered.

[@operator9858]

is gonzalo lira on the recruiting poster?

[@chrispbacon3084]

He didn't survive training.

[@beijingbrandon6220]

@@chrispbacon3084 Neither did "Givi" 🤡

[@paxcssr]

would the media and the europeans criticize now the ukraine?

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

Tinfoil hat

[@beijingbrandon6220]

@@Anti_Putin_Russian TDS

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

@@beijingbrandon6220 👈 Still a🏳️‍🌈🐓🤣🤣🤣

[@hamletthaus3046]

That’s a VERY bad idea.

[@Joaquin546]

Eh it's done in war pretty frequently.

[@PedroLopez-bj6hq]

Bounty hunters that are generals intelligent

[@semperxian]

"Ukraine resorts to conscripting convicts in return for freedom to aid failing war effort"

[@Infiniti_Rico]

Remember when Russia opened up the prisons and sent tens of thousands of prisoners to Ukraine to fight?

[@semperxian]

@@Infiniti_Rico yes and they took bakhmut, i remember when wagner did this and the russian army did not and does not and ukraine does, along with dragging men off the street which russia also never did, and if they do sky will definitely make it breaking news

[@Infiniti_Rico]

@@semperxian There's plenty of videos of men in Russia being kidnapped to fight in Ukraine.

[@sparkling_h2o895]

"they took bakhmut" yeah only took 500,000 deaths and the entire Russian navy but Russia is winning right? ​@@semperxian

[@naysaynetwork5271]

@@sparkling_h2o895yes russia is winning. And 500k deaths is not true.

[@PhillipV-qm4mf]

First off, these guys are going to be trained, and well equiped. Not like the russian prisoners sent in meat waves. I'm willing to bet a lot of the Ukrainian prisoners are going to find careers in the military after this war. Not a bad deal if you ask me, especially for young men lost in the world with no direction. They have a chance to go from zero to hero, from nobody to legend!

[@sayilu]

It comes down to badass vs badass

[@may_laytrucker3127]

I hope plan works, I have doubts

[@hazelwray4184]

I have no doubts. It's delusional.

[@BurntKittyForge-pl8ol]

they ponder joining mustachio's crew for maybe some freedom....

[@joeyrinard6997]

If given a home 🏡 money gauarnteed safty maybe 🤔

[@limeallens6160]

Boy are they being suckered.

[@nadacalo9289]

Out of mind!!!

[@steveprocter6241]

The facts behind this story. 3171 prisoners have joined the military. All are on parole and will serve under contract until the end of their parole period. Only prisoners who had less than 3 years of their sentence left were considered. No prisoners who committed serious offences or who have serious medical conditions were considered. Those without prior military training will receive 3 months training before going to the front. The first releases took place on May 29th.

[@pedrohpires6608]

The oficial facts???😁😎

[@NotaGabeItch]

@@pedrohpires6608If you’re going to dispute it, come with facts, not assumptions.

[@vim5793]

Пацаны, 149.200 и вызывайте Волгу. Будете и освобождёнными и на освобождённых территориях

[@user-kh7ie1eg3b]

Обязательно вызовут жди ,скинут вам немножко демократий ,словите ее лицом русня 😂😂😂

[@Tobynlabronx]

They sending them to die smh

[@intheshell35ify]

Desperate times call for desperate measures. But I'm pretty sure they will run fast and hard before they let themselves become cannon fodder.

[@bigfishy7816]

What a patriotic country 😆🫵

[@tzui4998]

Go to the supermarket, internet warrior

[@yantoyankee840]

Zelensky remember that,peace agreement,Ukraine must join NATO,and Ukraine would be safe,and NATO could protect Ukraine,

[@formerlyfromthefuton8171]

Ladies and gentlemen, these are your F-16 pilots!

[@bobgreen9980]

Your dumb,,,

[@thinkingmind7169]

Zelensky stop the killing .

[@seabee2653]

I’ve seen a prisoner get a buck-fifty for a soup. Smartest people you will ever meet are in fact prisoners. We have the same thing in America its call enlisting.

[@HongNaw-jx2sv]

When Russia does that the eest bad mouths her. Sheer hypoctisy. Russia is fighting Nato ss eell ss Ukrsine. She has the right to choose her means like any aggrieved party

[@sheyosquad5755]

I advice them to run to russia

[@drakehound2244]

What a nonensense youtube has become :P that I have to post 3 times.

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

Meanwhile in Vovchansk. Russia's most famous tactical battalion group the 87th Airborne just got defeated by those Ukrainian prisoners.

[@umarjongi3590]

lol getting desperate

[@TheRajmoney]

Check them tattoos

[@jimmiecolvin7365]

What Ever Works 🇺🇦🍺🇺🇸🎶🎶🎶😎

[@RollinsonMedia]

Forced not offered

[@CitsVariants]

Its voluntary

[@dawamsurya7540]

Like movie my way

[@lucan357]

Probers

[@afrakanaswahilitv5520]

Zelensky hana uungwaji wa kisheria kuwa Rais wa Ukraine. Kipindi cha utawala wake kiliisha na astahiki kushikilia wadhifa wa Rais wa jamhuri ya Ukraine. Ang'atuke mara moja.

[@Joaquin546]

What crock of 💩

[@user-od1pe2ip2n]

🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺💪💪

[@garettdoornwaard4822]

Lol

[@theonewhogiveslikes9390]

All of these guys will be waiting for Zelensky to give him a punishment after they all go to heaven.

[@americadivided2564]

😂

[@CK-jo9im]

"these too shall burn by Russian elite army on the battlefield," Dimitry Peskov. A very wise man.

[@joshuapaul2022]

Ukraine unlike Russia is forcing prisoners to die at the front. Russian prisoners had an option of just serving their sentences in full. The problem for Zelenskyy is that prisons are mostly filled with political prisoners disloyal to the regime. In general people kidnapped off the streets by Zelenskyy goons have zero motivation to die for him. When they manage to escape to Russians they willingly provide them with intelligence on Ukrainian positions, ammo depots etc. They consider Zelenskyy a tormentor and a war criminal.

[@rogeliolopez8758]

Ukraine, RUSSIA 🇷🇺

[@HipixOFFICIAL]

Ah yes, Rogelio LOPEZ, the most patriotic citizen of Russia.

[@rogeliolopez8758]

@@HipixOFFICIAL Thaks a lot!!!

[@rogeliolopez8758]

ALASKA, RUSSIA 🇷🇺

[@Seer645]

In June, Russian troops destroyed 16 Ukrainian tanks, a Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, 362 field artillery guns, 23 electronic warfare stations, almost 500 various combat vehicles and 77 field ammunition depots at the LPR frontiers, Andrey Marochko specified LUGANSK, July 1. /TASS/. Russian forces repelled 133 Ukrainian army attacks at the borders of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) and destroyed over 34,000 enemy troops and foreign mercenaries in June, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS on Monday. The Ukrainian military has suffered the heaviest casualties in that frontline area since the beginning of this year, the expert specified. "Over the past month, 133 enemy attacks were repulsed and an insignificant decline in assault operations is observed. The enemy’s losses over the reporting period in that frontline area amounted to about 34,785 Ukrainian militants and mercenaries, or 11,295 more compared to May. These are the largest losses of the Ukrainian armed formations since the beginning of this year in that frontline area. It should also be noted that the trend of the enemy’s mounting losses has been observed since February this year," the expert said. In June, Russian troops destroyed 16 Ukrainian tanks, a Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, 362 field artillery guns, 23 electronic warfare stations, almost 500 various combat vehicles and 77 field ammunition depots at the LPR frontiers, he specified.

[@Bob.55]

Russia has lost its highest-ever number of artillery systems in a one-month period, according to Ukrainian officials. An official post on X (formerly Twitter) from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine claimed that 1,415 Russian artillery systems were destroyed in June, which it said is a record since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia doesn't publish its military losses, and analysts are skeptical of reports released by both sides. Newsweek

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

You forgot the mention Russia also destroyed 3 Ukrainian Deathstars. 2 Battlestar Galatica. 1 Red Dwarf mining ship.

[@steveprocter6241]

And this 'expert' is...? No name and no source. Plus, your 'facts' do not align with confirmed data that is publicly available - see Oryx.

[@wildwolf9649]

@@Bob.55 "according to Ukrainian officials." 😂😂😂

[@user-lr7vq7lb4w]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂you mean russian volunteers who deserted russian army to fight putin😂😂😂😂

[@SolarWarden613]

Redeem yourself in Jesus Christ Name

[@liverpool666]

Udriiiu

[@Stupiditas-stupido]

Definition of human shields... Oh wait, Ukraine are not hamas 😁

[@v.hamilton5679]

30 years after the collaps of the USSR NATO gets humiliated by a fraction of it's former opponent.

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

Meanwhile in Vovchansk. Russia's most famous tactical battalion group the 87th Airborne just got defeated by those Ukrainian prisoners.

[@v.hamilton5679]

@@Anti_Putin_Russian yes, dear sheep, that's what the Sun tells you

[@Anti_Putin_Russian]

@@v.hamilton5679 👈4🏳️‍🌈🐓 Comments in 3 years and all posted recently. Clearly you're a NPC bot farm account

[@dangerdan2592]

If NATO was actually fighting then Russia would be pushed out of Ukraine already. NATO is sending supplies, and some of it is older equipment. Russia is having trouble with Ukraine armed with some NATO equipment.

[@v.hamilton5679]

@@dangerdan2592 NATO military personnel are driving tanks, operate artillery and missile systems, provide intelligence, have their own contingent in the ukranian army of 20 000. NATO have been training the ukranian military to their own standards for 8 years and have totally trained almost the same number of soldiers as NATO current active personnel. Yep, I 'd say NATO is already very much a participant in this conflict and is losing badly. All those huge military budgets, constant exercises, technologies, propaganda, all for nothing 😂