Increase in returns from unauthorized abandonment of military units is encouraging – Syrskyi

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has noted that the increase in returns after the first unauthorized abandonment of a military unit is encouraging. Syrskyi announced this on Facebook, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

"At the same time, the recording of the increase in the indicators of returns from the unauthorized abandonment of a military unit is encouraging," he said.

Syrskyi, summing up the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in June, noted that the war with russia, which is consistently increasing the number of personnel involved in the aggressive war against Ukraine, requires mobilization and recruitment.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Syrskyi admits mistakes and shortcomings during the call for mobilization.

In April, the Verkhovna Rada extended the deadline for the simplified return of military personnel to service after the first unauthorized abandonment of a military unit until August 30. Previously, the simplified mechanism for returning to service after the first unauthorized abandonment of a military unit without criminal liability was in effect until January 1, 2025 and applied to servicemen who voluntarily left military units or places of service or deserted until November 29, 2024.

In January, the Rada extended the deadline for voluntary return to service after the first unauthorized abandonment of a military unit until March 1.

In March, the State Bureau of Investigation reported that thanks to the law, which provided an opportunity for a serviceman to return to service after the first unauthorized abandonment of a military unit without criminal liability, more than 21,000 soldiers returned to the army.