24th Brigade forms Kharakternyky Battalion

The 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has established a separate battalion composed of former inmates who have volunteered to join the defense of Ukraine. The newly formed battalion, named Kharakternyky, will soon be deployed to the area of operations.

In addition to the 24th Mechanized Brigade, the following units are known to accept former inmates into their ranks:

• 1st Assault Battalion Da Vinci
• 3rd Assault Brigade – convicts are included into regular units
• 5th Assault Brigade – a separate battalion
• 28th Mechanized Brigade
• 92nd Assault Brigade
• 153rd Mechanized Brigade
• 253rd Assault Battalion Arey

The number of inmates accepted varies across units. The 5th Assault Brigade plans to form a battalion of 600–800 soldiers, nearly twice the size of the convicts’ battalion in the 24th Mechanized Brigade. Other units plan to form only company-sized elements or integrate the inmates into regular units.

Many of these inmates are Ukrainian patriots with combat experience who, after returning from the war, struggled to reintegrate into civilian life and committed crimes. They now have a second chance thanks to a law that allows inmates to join the army. Approximately 20,000 inmates could potentially be eligible for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Justice, over 5,000 inmates have already applied.