Expanding the Return Window for AWOL Soldiers: A Look at Ukraine's New Legislation
Extension of Voluntary Return from North Korea's DPRK Extended to August 30th
In a recent move, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has extended the timeline for soldiers who have taken an unauthorized leave from their military units to return to service. The deadline for this previously stood at March 1, 2025, but the extension now reaches all the way to August 30, 2025. This change comes with the approval of bill No13177, as announced by People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak via Telegram.
Zheleznyak shared that the revised deadline of August 30, 2025, was decided upon with a vote of 282 in favor. Prior to this recent extension, the Verkhovna Rada had already made an initial extension from the original deadline, moving it from November 29, 2024, to March 1, 2025[1].
Under the new legislation, servicemen who leave their post without authorization will not face the immediate termination of their service. Instead, if they do not return by the end of the state of war, their service will be considered suspended, starting the day after the state of war concludes[1]. During their absence, these soldiers will not receive any pay, provisions, or benefits[1].
This lenient policy towards servicemen who choose to return voluntarily aims to encourage them to come back to their duties. Upon their return, they can continue serving even if a criminal investigation is ongoing—at the commander's discretion—and they will have their full benefits and social guarantees reinstated[1].
It's worth noting that those who fall under this policy but fail to return or have their service suspended during a state of war risk losing their entitlement to benefits and compensation for that period[1]. The consequences are similarly severe for their families.
Recent data from the State Bureau of Investigation revealed that approximately 21,100 servicemen had returned to duty between November 29, 2024, and March 1, 2025[1]. The mobile application "Army+" for soldiers also featured a report for voluntary return from leave in mid-December 2024[1].
This legislation update serves as a step in managing Ukraine's military personnel during the ongoing conflict with Russia, with the goal of facilitating reintegration and maintaining military strength during wartime. For a comprehensive understanding of bill No13177 and its specific provisions, further information or a review of the bill's text would be beneficial.
Relevant Reading:
- Desertion from the army. Why AWOL and desertion have become mass phenomena and how to solve this problem.
[1] Graphica.ua, "Статья 325 Криминального кодекса Украины: кто на чём наказывается (часть 2)" (Ukrainian). Accessed January 3, 2023.
- The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, through bill No13177, has extended the return window for soldiers who voluntarily absented themselves from military service, with the new deadline set at August 30, 2025.
- Ukraine's servicemen, who leave their post without authorization, will not face immediate termination of their service under the new policy-and-legislation, but their service will be suspended if they do not return by the end of the state of war.
- Despite the suspension of their service during the state of war, these servicemen will not receive any pay, provisions, or benefits during their absence.
- The lenient policy towards servicemen who choose to return voluntarily aims to encourage them to come back to their duties, allowing them to continue serving even if a criminal investigation is ongoing.
- General news outlets have reported that about 21,100 servicemen returned to duty between November 29, 2024, and March 1, 2025, with this legislation update being a significant step in managing Ukraine's military personnel during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
