The Effect of the Russia’s Invasion on the Ukrainian Prison System

This presentation charts the major developments in the Ukrainian prison system in the wake of Russia's escalation of its imperialist war in 2022. Although the country has been experiencing mammoth challenges – from an economic collapse to a devastating war – Ukraine has managed to drastically decarcerate and liberalise its prison regimes. Based on a revisit ethnography, the presentation foregrounds the effects of Russia's neocolonial invasion on the legal framework, organisational parameters, and daily life in Ukrainian prisons. Examining the pressing travails the war poses, I also discuss some of its unintended consequences, highlighting the resilience of the Ukrainian people, including its prisoners and prison staff.