Ukraine has expanded a voluntary return program that lets AWOL soldiers choose from more than 70 units across the three ground branches and indicate preferred roles and deployment areas. The scheme—open until September 20—sends returnees directly to chosen units and protects them from involuntary transfer for six months. It aims to bring tens of thousands back within 100 days, while increasing pay and simplifying the administrative process. Placements are limited and not guaranteed.
Ukraine Lets AWOL Soldiers Choose Unit, Commander and Deployment to Encourage Returns
Mobile phones are a common sight on the battlefield in Ukraine.Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ukraine has expanded a voluntary return-to-service program that allows service members who are absent without leave (AWOL) to choose their redeployment unit, preferred role and area of service. Kyiv's defense ministry said the scheme covers more than 70 units across the three ground branches and aims to lure tens of thousands of personnel back within a 100-day window.
What The Program Offers
The ministry says the program allows AWOL personnel to select a unit from a specified list, indicate their preferred direction of service and note previous experience. Applicants can receive support from a contact center and, if accepted, are sent directly to the new unit. Troops who return under the scheme are protected from involuntary transfer for six months.
How It Differs From The Old Process
Previously, a returning AWOL soldier had to report to the Military Law Enforcement Service, a step that could trigger disciplinary proceedings and often routed personnel through a reserve battalion before redeployment. The new pathway bypasses that requirement: applicants may rejoin via a website or the military mobile app Army+, avoiding immediate contact with military police and the reserve battalion step.
“Drivers, UAV operators, clerks, shooters — the army needs everyone,” said Deputy Minister for Defense Mstislav Banik.
Deadlines, Limits and Caveats
Troops have until September 20 to apply under this expansion, the ministry said. However, placements are not guaranteed: the number of available positions in each unit and role is limited, and demand for certain formations is high. Social media and word-of-mouth have made some commanders and units more sought-after due to reputations for troop welfare and survivability.
Numbers, Pay and Context
Officials have previously reported more than 200,000 AWOL cases logged since the war began, though that figure may be inflated by administrative loopholes that allowed some service members to avoid transfer paperwork by going AWOL. The ministry has also raised pay ceilings, with assault troops potentially earning six-figure annual salaries depending on combat tempo.
This measure is part of a broader effort led until recently by reform-minded officials to modernize Ukraine's military structure and improve retention. The program is framed as practical and soldier-focused, intended to reduce bureaucracy and keep experienced personnel in the fight.
How To Apply: Via the defense ministry’s website or the Army+ mobile application (details in the ministry announcement). Applicants should submit requests soon because preferred roles and units may fill quickly.
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