Military Personnel Leave: Duration and Features During Martial Law
In the context of ongoing military aggression by the Russian Federation and the martial law imposed in Ukraine, questions concerning the rights and benefits of military personnel have become particularly relevant.
Currently, Ukraine is undergoing general mobilization, with many servicemen and women bravely defending the country’s territorial integrity amidst a large-scale war.
One of the key issues is the length and conditions of leave for servicemen.
Legal expert Tetyana Lebedev, a lawyer with experience in military law from the law firm ‘Aktum’, provided detailed insights into the current regulations and recent amendments governing this matter.
According to her, the new law stipulates a mandatory annual basic leave of 15 days for all military personnel.
Additionally, up to 15 days out of the maximum allowable 30 can be granted if the unit has the capacity and the commanding officer approves it.
Beyond regular leave, the law also introduces other provisions, such as an additional 14 days for combatant participants, a measure that returns after being temporarily canceled during martial law.
Furthermore, the law provides for special leave periods for taking exams, available to young contract soldiers aged 18–24 without higher education, who are engaged in ongoing training.
Lebedev emphasizes that the main focus of the new legal framework is on guaranteed annual leave of 15 days.
Moreover, there is a provision for additional leave specifically for exam preparation for those without higher education, aimed at enhancing their professional development and boosting morale during service.
It is noteworthy that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has previously announced specific features of service under the ‘Contract 18-24’ program, which helps improve the flexibility and social support system for young military personnel.