The controversial measure comes as Ukrainian authorities have been looking for ways to bolster their military capabilities and replenish the personnel deployed to the front lines for over two years and two months. The new legislation was approved as Ukraine faces a renewed Russian offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, which borders Russia. The Ukrainian parliament approved in early May a law that excludes those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape or endangering national security. It also excludes senior officials accused of corruption crimes. Prisoners who want to benefit from the new measure must have served at least three years of their sentence and must formally request to join the army. The agreement must be given by the commander of the military unit in question, according to the Spanish agency Europa Press. They will then have to undergo a psychological examination and a medical check-up. The initiative has emerged as a way to solve the serious mobilisation problems that Ukraine is facing at this stage of the war. Martial law, which is still in force in the country, prohibits men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving Ukrainian territory, which has not prevented many of them from doing so. The government has approved other controversial measures to address the problem, such as the cessation of consular services to military-age people residing abroad. Zelensky also signed a legislative amendment today that provides for increased fines for failure to comply with the mobilisation order, which can now amount to tens of thousands of hryvnias. Read Also: Russian army claims advances in the Kharkiv region (Portuguese version)