The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted a decision that, without exaggeration, holds significant importance for thousands of servicemen and their families
The parliament supported Bill No. 13177, which extends the validity of the so-called "Voluntary Return Program" for military personnel who left Ukrainian armed forces or other military formations without authorization during martial law, until August 30, 2025. This step aims to stabilize the situation within the army, regulate the legal status of those military personnel who were outside of service discipline, and provides new opportunities for their reintegration into the Armed Forces. As reported by Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zheleznyak in his Telegram channel, the parliament approved this initiative with a majority of votes — 282 deputies voted "for" during the plenary session. This means that the possibility of voluntary return for servicemen who, for various reasons, violated discipline but have not yet appeared at military units remains open. According to Zheleznyak, this deadline was previously set until the end of April 2024. Extending it to August 30, 2025, offers one more chance for those wishing to return to military service without facing penalties or fines. The main essence of the bill is that, during martial law, the service of those military personnel who left their unit voluntarily is effectively not terminated. However, at the end of martial law, their stay in the personnel reserve will be considered simply suspended. This means that the time spent outside the unit will not be counted toward their overall service record; during this period, servicemen and their families will lose the opportunity to benefit from the privileges and social guarantees established by law. Upon returning to service, military personnel will have the opportunity to restore all their rights and social guarantees provided by Ukrainian legislation. Additionally, the bill stipulates that servicemen who have returned may continue their service even if criminal proceedings are ongoing — at the discretion of the unit commander. This is intended to create greater flexibility and motivate military personnel to return, especially in the conditions of war and high stress within the military environment. It is worth noting that in the context of these innovations, other aspects should also be considered. For instance, in cases of unauthorized absence, desertion, or suspension of service during martial law, military personnel and their families lose their rights to social benefits and compensations for that period. This serves as an important signal to those who are hesitant or contemplating their options to return to service, as the situation remains complex and multifaceted. Let us recall that the process of returning from short-term unauthorized absence has long been an additional tool used by military authorities. Starting from mid-December 2024, the mobile application "Army+" — which is set to become an important instrument for servicemen — introduced a function for submitting a report to return from unauthorized absence. Also, in April 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation clarified a new procedural algorithm for servicemen who left units without permission, providing clear recommendations and explanations. Overall, the adopted decision is an attempt to regulate the situation in the Ukrainian army and create more convenient and transparent conditions for the return of military personnel who, for various reasons, find themselves outside of service. Evidently, this step is aimed not only at stabilizing discipline but also at supporting the psychological climate within the highly tense military system, encouraging servicemen to return to fulfill their duties during these difficult times for the country.