This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Military personnel who have left their unit without permission for the first time have until March 1, 2025, to return to service without facing criminal charges.
However, this simplified process does not apply to soldiers who went AWOL after November 29, 2024. Such soldiers, even if it is their first instance of going AWOL, cannot return to service and avoid criminal responsibility through the expedited process.
They must go through the general procedure, which includes:
The Ministry of Defense explained that only after the military court's decision will the reinstatement process begin, which includes restoring monetary payments and social guarantees that were suspended after the commander filed a report of the AWOL.
“Soldiers who went AWOL after November 29 may wait several months for reinstatement. Until that moment, they do not receive their salary and other guarantees,” the ministry's statement reads.
At the same time, for soldiers who left their unit before November 29 and are going AWOL for the first time, there remains the opportunity to return to service by March 1, 2025, through the simplified process and be reinstated within three days.
To do this, they can submit a report titled “Return to Service after AWOL” in the "Army+" application and attach a recommendation letter from the unit that needs the soldier. Each stage of the return process in "Army+" is accompanied by a separate notification, providing the soldier with information about the next steps.
It is worth noting that President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that in 2024, there has been an increase in cases of AWOL among Ukrainian military personnel. At the same time, he emphasized that such cases have decreased in the fall.
In November, the head of state signed a law on voluntary return to service for those who have gone AWOL or deserted for the first time.