Who can return from AWOL without facing charges: Defense Ministry gives a clear answer

The government is offering a second chance to service members who have temporarily left their posts. The new mechanism allows them to legally resume service by independently selecting a unit through the “Army+” app. Find out who will be completely exempt from punishment for leaving their unit without permission and how to properly file a report by September 20

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The first stage of a systematic transformation of the Armed Forces has begun in Ukraine, which temporarily simplifies the procedure for the return of service members who have left their units without authorization (AWOL). The government has opened a special “window of opportunity” that allows service members to legally resume their service.

How to Return from AWOL in Ukraine: Key Conditions

Not everyone will be able to take advantage of this simplified mechanism. The Ministry of Defense’s main requirement is that the fact of desertion must have been officially recorded by June 12, 2026. If this condition is met, the service member has until September 20 of this year to voluntarily return to the ranks of the Armed Forces.

A key difference from the 2024 and 2025 initiatives is the servicemember’s right to choose their unit independently. According to Deputy Minister of Defense Mstislav Banik, servicemembers will no longer be automatically assigned to reserve battalions. More than 50 of the Defense Forces’ top units are participating in the new project, ensuring a return to reliable commanders, adequate support, and clear combat missions.

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How to File a Report After Leaving Your Unit Without Permission

The return procedure has been optimized as much as possible. To resume service, a service member simply needs to submit an electronic report via the “Army+” app (available to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard).

Alternatively, one can contact the selected military unit directly or submit documents through the 1st and 2nd Recruitment Centers (for members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine only). After submitting the report, a verification process begins, which takes no more than seven days, after which the service member is officially reinstated. The mechanism is already in place: in just the first three days, 88 people submitted applications, 22 of whom have already been approved.

Consequences of Unauthorized Absence from Unit: Who Will Be Exempt from Punishment

Returning under the simplified procedure does not mean a blanket amnesty. Only those service members who have left their unit without permission or deserted for the first time are fully exempt from criminal liability.

Those who have violated the law repeatedly will still face trial and receive a sentence; however, the law grants them the right to have the legal proceedings suspended for the duration of their military service. It is worth noting that the punishment for leaving one’s unit without permission under martial law carries a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years, while desertion carries a sentence of 5 to 12 years. Exact statistics on such offenses are currently unavailable, as the data was classified by the Prosecutor General’s Office last December.

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Reminder! Ukraine has introduced a new system of financial support for military personnel, special forces soldiers, and foreign nationals serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Find out what payments, allowances, and combat bonuses are provided for under the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution, who is eligible to receive up to 460,000 hryvnias per month, and how the new payment mechanism will work.

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