For Ukrainian prisoners at the front, separated into a special combat unit, the war is a second chance: whoever survives is a free man. Nine thousand have expressed a desire to fight, but not all of them are approved, writes ARD.
Not far from the front, in the Donetsk region, the men of “Alcatraz” are preparing for battle. Their unit is part of the 93rd brigade and consists almost entirely of former prisoners.
Denis is one of 6,900 convicted criminals released early from prison to join the ranks of the Ukrainian army. "I didn't come here to die, but to kill," says Denis firmly, quoted by the German public broadcaster ARD. He has always wanted to join the assault units - unlike most Ukrainian men.
9,000 willing
The problem is not only that almost no one in Ukraine is volunteering for military service anymore - the infantry scares soldiers the most. They fight in the trenches on the very front line, are shelled with grenades and artillery, or are pursued by drones. The personnel crisis in the Ukrainian army is primarily a crisis in the infantry, ARD points out.
However: since May 2024, almost 9,000 Ukrainian prisoners have applied for early release in order to join the army. The calculation is as simple as it is brutal: Whoever survives the war will be free.
Without murderers or rapists
“For them, this is a second chance”, battalion commander Valentin tells ARD. He is the only one in the combat unit who has not been convicted. Valentin says that he has no difficulty commanding the former prisoners, because prison teaches discipline and order.
The challenge for Valentin is different: “They are used to being controlled and carry out orders without thinking”. And this must change, the commander emphasizes to the German public-law media.
The men from “Alcatraz” have been convicted of theft, bodily harm or burglary. Murderers, rapists or people convicted of terrorism, corruption or treason are not eligible for early release under Ukrainian law, the German publication explains.
Success depends on good physical shape
When Alexander learned about the new law last year, he immediately filed an application. Each application must be checked and approved by a judge. As Alexander tells ARD, he is fighting mainly for his family, because he does not want crimes like those in Bucha to be committed in his hometown of Dnipro.
Alexander is one of the first to come to “Alcatraz”, and he also has four years of experience from the war for Donbas in 2014. But there is no comparison, he assures: “Today they are shelling you with everything they have. The most important thing is to listen and observe very carefully. Your life is in danger every second."
The use of FPV drones is changing the course of the war in Ukraine immensely, he emphasizes to ARD and Vladislav. Together with Alexander, he takes care of the training of the newly released prisoners. Good physical fitness is important so that the soldiers are not caught by enemy combat drones. “50 percent of our success depends on this", Vladislav emphasizes.
“Motivation is crucial"
The Ukrainian combat unit cannot be compared to the Russian “Wagner" army, formed largely by prisoners, emphasizes ARD. The motivation to want to fight for your country is crucial, points out commander Valentin.
However, not everyone is accepted. “If we select the right people and work effectively, this project makes sense from my point of view”, the commander notes.
Denis is happy with the second chance he is now getting. “I enjoy the battles. We attack, we hit them and we get out quickly.” He has already performed well in his first battles, and has received the appropriate assessment, the ARD publication also says.