The Rada Committee supported changes in the regulation of AWOL and desertion during martial law.

The bill on unauthorized leave and desertion was supported by the committee

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported bill No. 12095 on changes in the regulation of unauthorized leave (AWOL) and desertion during martial law. This was reported by People's Deputy Oleksandr Fediyenko on his Telegram channel.

Main changes proposed by the bill:

• During martial law, military service for servicemen who have left military units or places of service without permission or who have deserted, is not suspended.
• Servicemen whose service was suspended before the enactment of this law are given the opportunity to voluntarily return to their place of service within 72 hours. In such cases, the commander is obliged to make a decision regarding the continuation of military service, renewal of contract, and restoration of all payments and benefits.

“This issue is controversial among servicemen due to the potential increase in AWOL cases,” Fediyenko noted.

However, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff supported the bill.

It should be recalled that according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, unauthorized leave lasting from three days to one month is punishable by a fine. The court makes the final decision, which, in the absence of mitigating circumstances, may declare the serviceman a deserter, entailing punishment from two to five years of imprisonment.

The committee suggests adopting the bill as a basis and in general.