Concerns Over Mobilizing Convicts
Anton Chorny, an instructor with the 'Shkval' battalion, has raised concerns about systemic resistance from prison colony administrators to the mobilization of convicts. He stated that the colony administration fears losing their jobs and the potential closure of their facilities. Chorny emphasized that to resolve this issue, the state must provide guarantees to the system's employees. This situation highlights a significant tension between wartime manpower needs and the stability of the domestic penal system.
Colony Administration's Apprehensions
During an appearance on political analyst Yuriy Romanenko's broadcast, Anton Chorny stressed that the colony administration is deeply worried about its future.
“Let's be frank, the colony administration is worried that if it is disbanded, where will they go to work? They are concerned about their jobs, about their livelihoods,” he emphasized.
He also pointed out that the law does not set quotas on the percentage of convicts who can be mobilized and instead defines selection criteria such as the criminal charge and health status.
Chorny further noted that “the state has not set that as an objective. We are not told to recruit from colonies in such a way as to prevent the colony from collapsing.” He believes the state should develop protective mechanisms for prison staff, even in the event of a facility's closure.
“The state should somehow consider giving them some form of job security or protection. Even if a colony is disbanded, you don't just lock the doors and leave; you retain this personnel. After the war, prisons will be full again, and we will need to get these workers from somewhere,” Chorny remarked.
Consequently, the issue of mobilizing convicts and the relationship between prison administrations and the state remains urgent and unresolved. In wartime conditions with limited national resources, finding a balance between security needs and social guarantees for correctional staff is critical. The state's subsequent steps on this matter could determine not only the effectiveness of mobilization but also the stability of Ukraine's penal system in the postwar period.