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The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in a Q&A format, explained the current options for returning to service for military personnel who have unauthorizedly left their unit.
The information was published on the MoD website.
If a service member wishes to return from AWOL, where should they go and what should they do?
A service member may contact the bodies of the Military Law Enforcement Service (VSP) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, namely:
- the Central Directorate of the VSP in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, as well as territorial directorates;
- zonal VSP offices.
A list of phone numbers can be found here.
At the VSP unit, the service member will be provided with information about units — specifically reserve battalions — to which they may return for service. They will also receive an assignment order to one of these battalions.
A service member may also independently report to a reserve battalion. The list of such battalions can be obtained from the VSP.
Is it possible to return from AWOL via the Army+ application?
Yes, this procedure remains in effect.
To resume service, a service member may submit a relevant report via the Army+ application.
VSP units process these reports and then direct service members to one of the reserve battalions.
In particular, upon receiving the report, the VSP organizes:
- interaction with the service member, verification and clarification of personal data, as well as documents required to continue military service;
- coordination with the command of the reserve battalion;
- arrangements for directing (escorting) the service member to the reserve battalion.
After confirmation in Army+, the service member has 24 hours to report to the appropriate VSP authority, receive the assignment order, and proceed to the reserve unit.
At the reserve unit, the service member is added to the personnel list of the reserve battalion.
Can a service member return from AWOL to the specific unit they desire and from which they have a recommendation letter?
Yes, this is possible.
According to the algorithm for movement (assignment) of AFU service members, recommendation letters from combat brigades requiring personnel reinforcement are still accepted and considered.
However, commanders of reserve battalions do not consider recommendation letters from support units during transfers and instead direct such service members to priority manning units.
The overall manning system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is structured so that combat units are replenished first.
What happens after a service member arrives at a reserve battalion?
No later than three days after arrival, the battalion commander issues an order to include the service member in the list of temporarily assigned personnel and defines their tasks.
At the same time, the commander clarifies through law enforcement authorities whether information about the service member has been entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations.
The commander also prepares and sends notification to the commander of the unit where the service member previously served about their arrival at the reserve battalion.
If there is written consent from the commander of a priority combat unit, this unit is specified in the notification.
Is a service member exempt from criminal liability upon returning from AWOL?
Under Part 5 of Article 401 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, a service member who, during martial law, commits for the first time a criminal offense related to unauthorized abandonment of a unit may be exempt from criminal liability in accordance with Ukrainian criminal procedural law.
To do so, the service member must submit a report and obtain written consent from the commander of the military unit (reserve battalion) to continue military service.
They must also submit a petition to the investigator, prosecutor, or court expressing their intent to return to military service.
The materials are then forwarded to the court, which makes the final decision.
What should a service member bring when returning from AWOL and reporting to the VSP?
They should bring military registration documents, a recommendation letter if available, and medical documents, including the conclusion of the military medical commission.
Are service members placed on food, medical, and financial support when assigned to a reserve battalion?
Reserve battalions provide centralized food support.
On the day the documents are received from the reserve battalion, the commander of the unit from which the service member went AWOL issues an order restoring the service member from AWOL status and reinstating all forms of support.
Where can service members with health limitations be assigned?
Such service members are assigned to support units or in accordance with the recommendation letter provided by the service member.
In particular, TCC and SP support units are reinforced with service members who, according to medical commission conclusions, are fit for service in support units.
