The Ministry of Defense has reminded servicemen who have self-discharged from their units that the simplified program for returning to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will conclude on September 20 inclusive. Over 70 units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine are available for service reinstatement.
This was announced by the press service of the Ukrainian defense establishment.
They stated that servicemen with a record of unauthorized absence registered up to and including June 12, 2026, can submit a report for return under this mechanism.
How to Choose a Unit for Simplified Return from Unauthorized Absence
The Ministry of Defense clarified that to select a unit for return, one can review information about specific units on the portal szch.army.gov.ua and check two aspects: the unit’s specialization and available positions.
Unit Specialization
This refers to mechanized or assault brigades, assault regiments, drone units, and artillery. Each of these areas has its own specifics, and the exact nature of service depends on the serviceman’s position and profession.
Available Positions
When submitting a report, a serviceman can indicate their desired service area, previous military and civilian experience, and skills. During the report’s review, a unit recruiter may contact them to propose available positions, considering their preferences, experience, and the unit’s needs.
Can One Transfer Between the Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Special Transport Service When Returning from Unauthorized Absence?
The agency noted that returns are permitted only to units from the approved list and strictly within one’s original structure: from the Armed Forces to the Armed Forces, from the National Guard to the National Guard, and from the State Special Transport Service – again, only to the State Special Transport Service.
They explained, for instance, that transferring from the National Guard to the Armed Forces under this program is not possible – it must be within the structure where service was performed at the time the unauthorized absence was registered.
By What Date Can a Report for Return from Unauthorized Absence Be Submitted?
A report for return from unauthorized absence under the simplified procedure can be submitted up to and including September 20, 2026. After this date, the simplified mechanism will no longer be operational.
Meanwhile, for those who do not manage to submit a return report or whose unauthorized absence is registered after June 12, 2026, the standard procedure applies – through contact with the Military Law Enforcement Service, enrollment in reserve battalions, and so on.
What is Known About the Number of Military Personnel Who Went AWOL and the Simplified Return Mechanism
In January 2026, the then-Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, stated that 200,000 servicemen of the Defense Forces had self-discharged from their military units.
On April 2, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine simplified the procedure for servicemen who went AWOL to return to service and accelerated their appointment to positions by eliminating intermediate document flow stages.
In early June, the State Bureau of Investigation reported that over 1.7 thousand servicemen had utilized the new algorithm, which allows servicemen to return to service faster after being AWOL.
Source: suspilne.media