Since May 2024, Ukraine has introduced a mechanism for the voluntary involvement of certain categories of convicted individuals in military service within the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The legislation provides for voluntary consent, a military medical examination, approval by a military unit, and a court decision to release them on parole.
As of 2025–2026, thousands of former prisoners are already serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, public debate continues regarding the degree of voluntariness of this mechanism, the risks of discrimination, conditions of service, access to social guarantees, and issues of stigmatisation.
The issue lies at the intersection of law, security, ethics, and human rights, making broad public discussion essential.
In particular, we will consider:
how to guarantee the voluntary nature of participation and the transparency of selection criteria;
whether all service members have equal conditions of service, quality training, proper financial compensation, and protection from issues related to enforcement proceedings;
what the specific aspects are of women’s service, access to medical care, leave, and rotations;
how social guarantees, combatant status, and support mechanisms for the families of the fallen operate;
why discussions arise around honourable burials and public reactions to them;
whether full resocialisation after the war is possible, how to overcome stigma, and what will prevail in the future: integration or segregation of veterans in society.
Speakers:
Andrii Halai, head of the Research Centre of the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine and former deputy head of the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences;
Anastasiia Kryshtanovych, expert on the protection of military service members’ rights at the Principle Human Rights Centre;
Oleh Tsvilyi, head of NGO Protection of Prisoners of Ukraine;
Ruslan “Coach” Pletinka, deputy head of recruitment for the Third Army Corps;
Representative of the Military Ombudsman (TBA);
A military service member contracted under parole release (TBA).
Moderator:
Oleksandr Pavlichenko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.
Organisers:
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and NGO Docudays.
