Ukrainian Parliament Passes 2025 Leave Reforms Amid Surge in Troop Complaints.

Military Leave Crisis in Ukraine

According to Espreso.tv: Despite legal guarantees, many Ukrainian service members struggle to secure their entitled rest periods. Combat veterans are legally allowed 45 days of leave, but in practice, some troops cannot even obtain the minimum 15 days. All personnel are also entitled to 30 days of annual leave. In response to widespread grievances, the Verkhovna Rada enacted changes in 2025 that make 15 days of annual leave mandatory and non-negotiable.

According to the Office of the Military Ombudsman, over 4,000 complaints were filed by soldiers in 2024, with more than half related to leave issues. Between January 27 and May 11, 2026, the office received over 45 additional complaints specifically about leave. The most common grievances include:

• commanders ignoring or delaying leave requests;
• outright refusal to grant leave;
• poor understanding of the request procedure among troops.

Valeriia Morozova noted that pay and leave are the top reasons soldiers contact the Ombudsman's office, with pay being the more frequent issue. Viktor Bishchuk highlighted that leave policies vary drastically between units. He also pointed out that commanders often feel personally responsible for the troops they must leave behind, stating:

“We must first focus on replenishing personnel or improving mobilization processes before even thinking about increasing leave.”

How Leave Requests Work

The process begins when a soldier submits a formal request to their direct commander. Unofficial leave reportedly costs 500 hryvnias per day. Persistent obstacles to obtaining leave underscore the need for further legal and practical reforms.

The ongoing leave crisis among Ukrainian troops highlights the urgent need for systemic changes in military administration. The high volume of complaints shows that the current system fails to protect soldiers' rights. Improvements must include clearer procedures for submitting requests and eliminating the root causes of denial. Ensuring troops can access their entitled rest is vital for morale and physical health, which directly impacts combat effectiveness.