More than 7 thousand servicemen voluntarily return to service after AWOL - SBI
As of the end of 2024, more than 7,000 servicemen voluntarily returned to the army after going AWOL.
This was reported to Interfax-Ukraine by the State Bureau of Investigation, Censor.NET reports.
It is noted that almost 4 thousand soldiers have already been sent to military units.
After the adoption of the law (which allows servicemen who went AWOL for the first time to return to the ranks and avoid criminal liability - ed.), more than 7,000 servicemen who had left their units without permission returned to the army," the SBI reported.
The agency also noted that 4,396 of those who returned have already officially resumed military service.
"3,873 servicemen have already been assigned to military units. As for the rest, the process of resumption and closure of criminal proceedings is underway," they added.
Returning to service after AWOL
On 28 November, President Zelenskyy signed a law allowing those who went AWOL or deserted for the first time to return to service voluntarily and without punishment.
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 left military units or places of service without permission 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.
It was also reported that military personnel who voluntarily return to service before 1 January 2025 will be reinstated with all social guarantees.
As a reminder, Iryna Vereshchuk recently noted that the term for voluntary return to service after absence without official leave (AWOL) may be extended.
