Return from AWOL. The General Staff named the number of military personnel who fled and returned to their units.

More than 6 thousand servicemen returned to duty after leaving the army without permission

During November, more than 6 thousand servicemen who had previously left their unit without permission voluntarily returned to service, reported the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The basis for optimistic forecasts is the amendments to the law 'On Military Duty and Military Service', which is expected to be signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky soon. The amendments aim to encourage indecisive men who left their unit (referred to in the army as AWOL) to return to service more quickly: the law will limit the leniency for remaining AWOL if the serviceman returns to duty by January 1, 2025. Such a serviceman will be covered by the law No. 11322, adopted in August this year, which exempts those who went AWOL from criminal liability.

According to representatives of the General Staff, servicemen who decide to return to duty after leaving without permission will initially be placed for a certain time in reserve battalions and then will be assigned to combat brigades.

The personnel issue of servicemen leaving the military without permission remains relevant. According to unofficial data, the number of men who risked going AWOL is at least 100 thousand individuals.