In the first days of the new law, more than 3,000 deserters returned to the military.

According to the new law, more than 3,000 servicemen who previously left their unit without permission returned to service within 76 hours. This law allows military personnel who have left military units or deserted for the first time to return voluntarily. This was reported by Oleksandr Hrynchuk, Deputy Head of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to Hrynchuk, approximately 40-60% of military personnel from the military police are returning to service. The information regarding the number of deserters is not disclosed due to its sensitive nature.

Hrynchuk emphasized that not all military personnel who left their unit are deserters. He noted that many of them left for special reasons, such as medical treatment, and this does not indicate their desire to evade service. However, there are also those who do not wish to return to service due to fear of death, conflicts with commanders, or fatigue.

The Military Law Enforcement Service collaborates with brigades where there is a high number of unauthorized departures to bring these deserters back to service. Unit commanders to whom deserters return have 72 hours to accept them and provide necessary support.

Hrynchuk stresses that the Military Law Enforcement Service identifies and registers cases of unauthorized absence and tries to find them. Sometimes military personnel return to their units when law enforcement has already found them.

The law stipulates that unauthorized absence will be decriminalized for military personnel who return by January 1, 2025.

More than 6,000 servicemen who previously left service voluntarily returned in early December. The General Staff is confident that this number will continue to grow.

These changes to the military duty law are intended to encourage those who have deserted to return more quickly. The law limits the impunity for unauthorized absence after January 1, 2025, for those who return to service.