The Ministry of Defense explained the conditions for additional leave for combatants.

According to ТСН: The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine explained the conditions and procedure for granting additional leave for military personnel with the status of combatants.

The leave stipulated in the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of War Veterans, Guarantees of Their Social Protection" is up to two weeks per year. For individuals with special merits, it can last up to three weeks.

As noted by the Ministry of Defense, this right is a state guarantee enshrined in the Law of Ukraine "On the Social and Legal Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and Their Families." The duration of additional leave is 14 calendar days per year or 21 days for military personnel with special merits, during which monetary compensation is preserved.

Features of granting leave during martial law

The authorities emphasized that during the period of martial law, there are special features in the procedure for granting leave. The decision to grant leave is made by the commander of the military unit based on the report of the military personnel. The commander must take into account the operational situation, the need to perform combat tasks, and not allow more than 30% of the personnel of the unit to be absent from duty at the same time.

Additional leave is granted within the calendar year from the moment the military personnel received this right, and it is additional to the annual main leave. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that it is granted in one continuous period - 14 or 21 days, and cannot be split into parts.

Travel and cumulative nature of leave

It is additionally noted that up to two days for travel to and from the place of rest can be added to the duration of leave, but no more than two days in one direction within Ukraine.

The Ministry emphasized that additional leave has a cumulative nature. Unused days do not expire after the end of the calendar year, and upon dismissal, military personnel will be compensated for all unused leave days from previous years of service. Exceptions are cases of dismissal due to service noncompliance, a court conviction, or systematic non-fulfillment of contractual terms.

Moreover, it was clarified that the right to additional leave remains valid regardless of the further place of work. After dismissal from military service, a person can exercise this right at their main place of work or through additional employment.

Thus, the new information from the Ministry of Defense highlights the importance of social protection for military personnel and their right to rest. This helps ensure proper conditions for recovery and maintaining morale, especially during martial law in the country.