Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
20 September in Ukraine marked the end of the simplified return program from AWOL for servicemembers who voluntarily left their unit before 12 June 2026 of this year. The Ministry of Defense explained how it is now possible to return to service.
After 20 September, voluntary returns from AWOL are processed under general procedures – through the Military Police (VSP) and reserve battalions.
This means a longer return process, a longer wait to restore pay, and no ability to choose independently which unit to continue serving in, the defense ministry warned.
If a servicemember wants to return from AWOL, they can apply to the Central Directorate of the VSP in Kyiv city and Kyiv region or to territorial directorates, as well as to zonal VSP departments.
After arriving at a VSP unit, the servicemember is provided with information about reserve battalions to which they can return to continue service. They can also receive an assignment order to one of those battalions there.
The servicemember may also independently report to a reserve battalion, the Ministry of Defense reminded. After arrival, the reserve battalion commander issues an order within three days to include the servicemember in the list of temporarily arrived personnel and assigns them tasks.
You can return to a unit if you have a recommendation letter from it, but only if it is a combat unit. Recommendation letters from logistics/support units are not taken into account.
"Commanders of reserve battalions direct such servicemembers to units that are prioritized for staffing," the Ministry of Defense noted.
They also added that a servicemember can be exempted from criminal liability if, during martial law, they committed AWOL for the first time.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "В Україні припинили спрощену процедуру повернення із СЗЧ. Що тепер чекає на військових?". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Gordon.