Desertion cases may be closed due to Lozovoy amendments: expert's explanation.

According to ТСН: In Ukraine, criminal cases regarding desertion and unauthorized abandonment of military units may be closed due to violations of pre-trial investigation terms, despite the fact that the statute of limitations for such crimes is 10 years.

Former prosecutor's statement

Former prosecutor and military officer Serhiy Horbatyuk noted in an interview that while the Criminal Code provides a long period for prosecution, in practice, the so-called "Lozovoy amendments" allow closing criminal cases due to violations of pre-trial investigation terms. Usually, these terms are about a year.

Statistics and effectiveness of investigations

According to Horbatyuk, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 200,000 cases have been opened in Ukraine for unauthorized abandonment of military units and over 50,000 for desertion. However, a significant portion of these proceedings has not been effectively investigated.

He cited several cases of unauthorized abandonment of military units in his battalion in 2022-2023, emphasizing that investigative authorities did not conduct thorough investigations. Some cases were even not registered, despite obvious violations.

Causes and consequences

Horbatyuk believes that the increase in cases of unauthorized abandonment of military units is often a result of management errors and unjustified combat decisions made by commanders. He argues that investigative authorities should identify the causes of these cases and hold accountable not only the soldiers but also the commanders if their actions had negative consequences.

He also emphasized the importance of prompt investigation of cases of unauthorized abandonment without objective reasons, their transfer to court, and public punishment as a deterrent factor.

Prospects of investigations

Horbatyuk noted that due to the actions of the "Lozovoy amendments," a large number of criminal proceedings had already been closed, despite the availability of evidence. He does not rule out the possibility of closing cases regarding unauthorized abandonment of military units, considering this a manifestation of a corrupt element.

It was previously reported about a large number of cases of desertion and unauthorized abandonment of military units, totaling about 17-18 thousand per month. This situation raises concerns in society and calls into question the effectiveness of management in Ukraine's military structures. The real actions depend not only on improving discipline in the military but also on ensuring national security in difficult times.