Ukraine’s convicts have been offered a chance of freedom but first they must fight at the front for Russia.

“You can put an end to this and start a new life,” said an army recruiter over the weekend at a rural penal colony in southeast Ukraine. “The main thing is your will, because you are going to defend the motherland. You won’t succeed at 50%, you have to give 100% of yourself, even 150%.”

More than 3,000 prisoners already have been released on parole and assigned to military units after such recruitment was approved by parliament in a controversial mobilisation bill last month.

About 27,000 inmates could potentially be eligible for the new program, according to Justice Ministry estimates.

Those convicted of rape, sexual assault, murdering two or more people or crimes against Ukraine’s national security aren’t eligible.

Ukrainian officials have said their recruitment programme is nothing like that used in Russia that assigns convicts to serve in the war’s deadliest battles under the notorious Wagner mercenary group. Kyiv said they will aim to integrate their inmates into regular Ukrainian frontline units.