The Verkhovna Rada is discussing the idea of extending the deadline for returning from the SZCH: Vereshchuk
The deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk, reported that on January 1, the deadline for the voluntary return of servicemen who voluntarily left their units (SZCH) expired, so the idea of extending it is currently being discussed. She took this initiative voiced in his Telegram channel, summarizing the results of the interdepartmental meeting on issues of veteran policy and social protection of servicemen and their family members.
According to her, the idea of extending the period of voluntary return is still at the stage of discussion with the defense committee of the Verkhovna Rada. The official noted that the goal of this initiative is to create conditions for the reintegration of servicemen into the ranks of the Armed Forces, taking into account their previous experience and the needs of the army.
Vereshchuk emphasized the need to more actively use the experience of recruiters from combat units to return soldiers who voluntarily left the units. She emphasized that those units that have successful results in returning fighters to the ranks should receive all kinds of support.
“To work on the return of soldiers, more actively involve recruiters from successful combat units. If someone succeeds in successfully returning a soldier to the ranks, then you should let people work and support them in every way. (By the way, do not allow a situation where a unit agreed to take a person after the SZH to herself, and she is sent to another unit)”. Vereshchuk said.
She also urged to avoid situations where a serviceman, who was planned to be returned to a specific unit, is redirected to another. This, in her opinion, can reduce the effectiveness of the reintegration of fighters.
We will remind you that from the beginning of 2022 to September 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine registered almost 60,000 criminal proceedings on the fact of voluntary desertion of military units and about 30,000 cases of desertion.
On November 21, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 12095, which provides the possibility of voluntary return to service for those who voluntarily left the unit for the first time or deserted. Later, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, signed this law, which was an important step to encourage the military to return to service.
The State Bureau of Investigation reported that servicemen who return to their units after the SZH by January 1, 2025, will be reinstated in service with all social guarantees. This includes the payment of wages, medical benefits and other benefits provided to military personnel.
