Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that he will be releasing Ukraine’s inmates to fight on the front lines. The men will be forgiven for their crimes and get a second shot at being contributing members of society again—Maybe even heroes.
Critics have questioned the move but I think it’s uniquely brilliant. Zelensky has enlisted the help of previously trained prisoners to fight on the frontlines in the worst-hit parts of his country.
Zelensky shared the remarks during an address that called on “everyone” who could join “in the struggle for our state” to do so.
“Ukrainians with real combat experience will be released from custody and will be able to compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots,” Zelensky said, according to The Kyiv Independent.
“All sanctions against some individuals who participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation will be lifted. The key thing now is defense,” he added.
“In every conversation with our partners I hear sincere respect. Ukraine has shown the world who we are, and Russia has shown what it has become,” he said. “Every crime, every shelling that the invaders commit against us unites us and our partners even more. Russia did not expect such a solid and powerful response, but the Ukrainians changed that story.”
“Europeans are aware that our soldiers are fighting for our country, and, consequently, for the whole of Europe,” Ukraine’s president added.
Zelenksy has also called on Russian troops to stop fighting and abandon their equipment in defiance of Putin’s invasion.
“Abandon your equipment. Get out of here. Don’t believe your commanders. Don’t believe your propagandists. Just save your lives,” he said.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged the EU to grant his country immediate membership of the bloc.
He also had a message for Russian troops in Ukraine: “Abandon your military equipment and leave,” he said. “Save your lives. Leave.”https://t.co/JGBMQM762D pic.twitter.com/yZI2TmjuGw
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 28, 2022
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian government issued war bonds to fund their defense against a Russian invasion, raising about 8.1 billion hryvnias (or $270 million).
“The proceeds from the bonds will be used to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to ensure the uninterrupted provision of the state’s financial needs under the war,” Ukraine’s finance ministry said.