Around 3,000 former prisoners were given the option to trade jail time for a role in the Ukrainian army as the war continues.
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00:00Thousands of Ukrainian convicts have traded in jail time to fight on the front lines.
00:07Aimed at boosting flagging infantry numbers amid the might of the Russian army,
00:12a recently passed bill means that fighters like Syko in Kharkiv can quash their prison sentences and defend their country.
00:20We've changed the law a bit, and that's a plus for us.
00:24We can become useful, start a new life, help those in need.
00:33The war against Russia grinds into its third year, with over 30,000 Ukrainian troops killed.
00:40A battered infantry is hopeful about the new fighters.
00:44It's no secret that in the third year of the war, there are practically no motivated fighters.
01:00A military deputy commander believes this unique opportunity allows 3,000 recently paroled prisoners to improve upon their futures.
01:11The people themselves want to change their lives for the better, so there's no need to take any radical measures.
01:23They are servicemen of the armed forces of the country that signed the contract, so we treat them like servicemen.
01:31Prisoners not convicted of serious or violent crimes, such as rape and murder, are eligible to participate.