Defense Ministry clarifies law on returning to military service after first desertion
Ukraine's Defense Ministry issued an explanation regarding draft bill No. 11322, supported in the first reading, which ensures possibility for soldiers, who voluntarily left the unit for the first time or committed desertion, to return to the service.
Defense Ministry press service highlighted some changes made to the current legislation, which will allow people to be released from criminal liability by returning all social benefits to them after continuing military service.
"Now we have to create a system solving the issue with soldiers' return to the Army," Deputy Defense Minister Nataliia Kalmykova said.
"That is why the existing legislation needs to be changed. There are many cases when soldiers, having left their military unit want to return. We must provide them with this opportunity and create conditions for their return."
A soldier who has abandoned military unit or deserted for the first time, will be able to voluntarily turn to an investigator or prosecutor and say he is willing to return to the military unit to continue his service, the Defense Ministry noted, citing the proposed changes. Soldier returning to his duty requires the Commander's approval.
The Ukrainian Parliament adopted the relevant bill on July 16.
1,577 people were sentenced in Ukraine for voluntarily leaving a military unit in 2023, Ukraine's Supreme Court head, Stanislav Kravchenko, said on the same day.
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