Mechanized Brigades and Unmanned Systems Forces: Lawmaker Reveals Percentage of Former AWOL Soldiers.

Integration of Former AWOL Military Personnel into Mechanized Brigades

According to Novyny.live: Ukrainian lawmaker Ruslan Horbenko has disclosed the proportion of former soldiers who went AWOL (Absent Without Leave) now serving in mechanized brigades and high-tech units. According to him, approximately 10% of the personnel in mechanized brigades are troops who previously deserted. This figure highlights that a substantial number of these individuals have successfully reintegrated into conventional combat forces.

In contrast, the Unmanned Systems Forces have a much lower share of former AWOL personnel, standing at roughly 1.5%.

“I think it’s about up to 1.5%,” Horbenko noted when commenting on the situation in these units.

Initiatives to Encourage the Return of Former Soldiers

Ukrainian citizens currently listed as AWOL are given a 100-day window to voluntarily return to service. Additionally, a draft law has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada to ease penalties for those who went AWOL. These measures are designed to incentivize former troops to rejoin active duty, a critical step for bolstering the country’s defense capabilities.

The data on integrating former AWOL soldiers into mechanized brigades underscores the importance of adapting military personnel to new conditions and combat tactics. The growing presence of veterans in traditional units may point to a demand for the experience and skills they acquired during their time away from service.

Initiatives aimed at bringing former soldiers back to the ranks could positively impact Ukraine’s overall defense readiness by supplying military units with qualified specialists capable of operating effectively in modern combat scenarios.