Military have time until January 1 to return from AWOL - SBI
Military personnel who have gone AWOL from their place of service for the first time have until 1 January 2025 to return without incurring criminal liability.
This was stated by Tetiana Sapian, Advisor to the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation on Communications, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
"If you went AWOL as a serviceman, you have the opportunity to return to your military unit from the end of November to 1 January of the new year, i.e. in a month. After you return to your place of service, the commander has 72 hours to extend your contract or reinstate you in service," she said.
In this case, Sapian explained, cash, provision and clothing allowances, as well as benefits and social guarantees, will be resumed.
"When a serviceman returns to his military unit, he is obliged to notify the pre-trial investigation body or the military law enforcement service that the serviceman has returned to defend the borders of Ukraine. This is the algorithm of actions for today," the SBI concluded.
Returning to service after AWOL
The day before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law 12095 on voluntary return to service for those who went AWOL from a military unit without permission or deserted for the first time.
According to the law, criminal proceedings initiated in relation to criminal offences under Articles 407 and 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine against servicemen who first gone AWOL from military units or places of service or deserted and voluntarily arrived and expressed their readiness to continue military service are not grounds for refusing to extend the military service of such servicemen and the validity of their contract.
