The soldier was acquitted of punishment for AWOL. What was decisive in court?.

The court closed the criminal proceedings against the serviceman for unauthorized departure from the unit

The Kyiv District Court of Odessa decided to close the criminal proceedings against the serviceman, who was initially impulsively sentenced for unauthorized departure from the military unit. This information was reported by the publication 'Glavkom' referring to the 'Judicial and Legal Newspaper'.

The serviceman from one of the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine left the unit without notification, but later explained that he did so due to personal problems. After resolving them, he expressed his desire to resume service.

'The court emphasized that in wartime, the army's combat capability is crucial, and the serviceman's willingness to return to duty corresponds to the interests of the state,' the message reads.

The prosecutor urged the court to take into account Article 401 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for exemption from criminal liability in cases where the serviceman sincerely repents and intends to return to service. Fortunately, the soldier resumed and voluntarily returned to duty.

By the way, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law extending the term for the voluntary return of servicemen from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, postponing the deadline to August 30, 2025. According to law enforcement agencies, the majority of cases of unauthorized departures occur in training centers rather than on the front line.