Yuliia, 26, “They told me I would become a proper soldier, yet it seems for the rest of my life I’ll remain a ‘convict’. Even so, I’m proud to be in Shkval”

by frontliner_ukraine

19 comments

  1. Yuliia, 26, callsign ‘Brooks,’ enlisted in Shkval during the first wave of recruitment among incarcerated women. After signing her contract and completing basic training, she began working at a control and observation post, where she has served for more than a year. Her prison term ended months ago, yet she is still subject to administrative supervision.

    >*“They told me I would become a proper soldier, yet it seems for the rest of my life I’ll remain a ‘convict’. Even so, I’m proud to be in Shkval,”* Yuliia says, adding, *“I just don’t like the way the state treats us.”*

    Read article in full here: [https://frontliner.ua/en/still-infamous-former-inmates-go-to-war-but-lack-their-promised-rights/](https://frontliner.ua/en/still-infamous-former-inmates-go-to-war-but-lack-their-promised-rights/) 

    ***Text: Diana Deliurman***

    ***Photos: Diana Deliurman, Andriy Dubchak, Nadiia Karpova***

    We invite you to share our work, provided it is not for commercial purposes. For further information and collaboration opportunities, please send us an email [info@frontliner.ua](mailto:info@frontliner.ua)

    Edit: previous post here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/1pmjlro/the_sun_has_set_over_kyiv_on_the_1389th_day_of/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/1pmjlro/the_sun_has_set_over_kyiv_on_the_1389th_day_of/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

  2. Yuliya is super brave. A girl from a family of artists. I saw how deeply she worries about every former prisoner who goes to the zero line. There’s nothing to say about deaths. And she has seen a lot of death this year.

  4. What was she in for? Being illegally cute?

    ![gif](giphy|NKKpTtGww8sytenUbH)

  5. Brooks as in Shawshank Redemption? If so, that’s hilarious.

  7. Heroyam Slava! Nothing wrong with Shkval, but if she’d rather serve in another unit, this must surely be possible to accommodate?

  8. As an American, I’d love to be able to help in the war effort, because it feels like there’s a strong calling in fighting against the orcs. But even if she feels like a convict, she would be more qualified to be a warrior in their ranks than I could ever be. I hope her efforts as well as the rest of Ukraine give them the freedom they deserve. Slava Ukraini.

  9. Something is smelly here.. extra smelly here – and not that stew.

  10. Not to minimize any criticisms of how they are treated or their command, as it’s not my place, but I am glad to see that they are at least receiving some good equipment like the CZ bren hanging on the wall.

  11. You would think that if a convict enlisted for military service that they should have (some) of the shorter-term sentences commuted upon completion of training and at deployment.

    She is now a free woman, fighting for her country. At least give her the respect that she now deserves.

    Her contract should of been re-issued without the terms of supervision at the conclusion of her sentence.

    We look to Ukraine to do the right thing.

  12. Governments of free societies are expected to make good on their promises. Especially to its own citizens.

  13. You defend your country… you’re a soldier. Next question.

  14. When I did construction work the company hired a lot of convicts. I believe firmly that if you do your time you should be brought back into the country as a citizen. Work is a good way to bring these people back and I can only imagine that serving your country loyally in war would be even better. Stay safe Yuliia.

  16. This whole using convicts thing is borderline coercion; go die for a lesser or nulled sentence, or serve the time.
    Also trusting criminals with weapons? They already betrayed the contract to uphold social structure and behavior.
    It just rubs me the wrong way in either instance, or maybe I’m misunderstanding and they do it voluntarily.

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