During the first 72 hours of the new law, about three thousand servicemen who voluntarily left their place of service took advantage of the opportunity to return to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. About this reported Colonel Oleksandr Grynchuk, Deputy Chief of the Main Department of the Military Law and Order Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Legislative changes allow military personnel who left their units without permission before November 29, 2024, to return to service until January 1, 2025 without risk of punishment. The commanders are obliged within 72 hours after the return to renew the validity of the contract, to provide the serviceman materially and socially, in particular with monetary, food and material support. However, there is no provision for absence payments.
According to Grinchuk, this law, developed with the participation of the Military Law and Order Service, has a positive effect on strengthening the country’s defense capabilities. The colonel emphasized that in general, 40-60% of military personnel who leave units return voluntarily.
To implement the law, special working groups were created in 17 designated military units, and commanders received clear instructions on the algorithm of actions. Over the past month, about 6,000 soldiers have already taken advantage of the opportunity to return to service after voluntarily leaving their units.
