Ukraine started drafting convicted prisoners to serve in the armed forces as it struggles to maintain frontlines three years into the war after suffering significant losses among its forces, especially with the newly launched Russian offensive late last month, which has resulted so far in Kiev losing significant territorial grounds, The New York Times reported on Friday.

While the total number of released prisoners is unknown since the law went into effect last week, a regional court in western Ukraine said this week that it had freed more than 50 prisoners under the new law that allows convicts to serve in the army in exchange for the possibility of parole at the end of their service. It is unclear how many prisoners in total have been released since the law came into force a week ago.

Read more: Ukrainian officers kidnap 14 y/o amid forced conscription drive

Ukraine Defense Ministry Spokesperson Dmitry Lazutkin said last week that the Ukrainian society must be prepared to make sacrifices and relinquish their peaceful lives in order to overcome the threat posed by Russia.

“It would be normal if our enemy was weak. But with such an enemy, the whole country and the whole society need to mobilize,” he said.

Read more: US pressured Kiev to adopt new mobilization law: NYT

Forced recruitment

Justice Minister Denys Maliuska informed BBC that 10,000 to 20,000 prisoners could potentially be recruited under the new law. Ukrainian authorities announced that over 3,000 prisoners have already applied to serve in the army.

The newspaper said that the Ukrainian law excludes individuals convicted of premeditated murder, rape, or other serious offenses from eligibility.

Russian private military company PMC Wagner resorted to similar measures during the war, coming under harsh Western criticism, including from Kiev. But with Russia's new campaign across several conflict regions, most notably Kharkiv, Ukraine was forced to tab into its prisons to fill in its manpower gap. 

Read more: Ukraine to exempt clowns from mobilization for 'critical importance'

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in February that around 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had lost their lives in the war. This figure is significantly lower than estimates provided by US officials last August, who reported that nearly 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed by that time.

Kiev enacted amendments last month to conscription rules. These changes include lowering the draft age to 25, automating summons, and granting enlistment officers expanded powers while imposing various restrictions for draft dodgers. Additionally, the country's foreign ministry has suspended consular services for military-eligible Ukrainians abroad.

Ukrainian authorities have also warned of blocking bank accounts and imposing penalties on the property of those attempting to evade military service.

The new mobilization bills aimed to revamp the country's legislative framework in front of a possible recruiting surge this year that might include up to 500,000 individuals. An estimated 330,000 troops are presently engaged on the battlefield.

Read more: The US fortifies its security using Ukrainian troops: Report

The Wall Street Journal reported on March 25 that alongside the shortage of soldiers, recruitment efforts were hindered due to "politics, demographics and Ukrainians' increasing reluctance to join the military."

In response to these stricter measures, there has been a notable increase in Ukrainian men attempting to flee the country. Border Service spokesperson Andrey Demchenko revealed that approximately 120-150 people are apprehended trying to leave Ukraine daily, with some losing their lives in the attempt.

Read more: Ukraine lack armored vehicles for newly drafted recruits: Forbes