Reinstatement of Service Members After September 20, 2026
Following September 20, 2026, military personnel who left their units without authorization have the opportunity to rejoin active duty under regular terms through the Military Police and reserve battalions. Prior to this date, a simplified reintegration program was in place but concluded on September 20, 2026. This program applied to those whose unauthorized absence was recorded before June 12, 2026.
Once the simplified pathway ends, returning servicemembers must follow specific protocols:
- They should contact the Central Directorate of the Military Police in Kyiv and Kyiv region, or reach out to local or zonal Military Police offices for guidance.
- Reenlistment after September 20, 2026 involves a lengthier process, includes restoration of pay, and does not allow individuals to select their preferred unit.
Upon arrival at a Military Police unit, service members will receive information about reserve battalions and may be assigned accordingly. The commander of the reserve battalion is required to issue an order enrolling the individual as a temporarily arrived personnel within three days. They will also verify any records of unauthorized absence in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations and notify the commander of the relevant military unit about the individual’s arrival.
Recommendation letters from combat brigades influence the decisions of reserve battalion commanders when accepting returning personnel. In contrast, letters from support units are not considered, and such individuals are directed to priority staffing units. Additionally, servicemembers may be exempt from criminal liability for unauthorized absence if it is their first offense during martial law. This requires submitting a formal report, obtaining written consent from the unit commander, and filing a petition with an investigator, prosecutor, or court.
For further assistance and inquiries, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine operates a hotline at 1519. Contact details for the Military Police are available on the Ministry’s official Facebook page.
Significance of the Policy Changes
These measures reflect the Ukrainian government’s effort to regulate and systematize the return of personnel who left service without permission, particularly amid ongoing conflict. Introducing structured procedures and conditions for reenlistment represents a crucial step toward rebuilding the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and enhancing personnel management under challenging wartime circumstances.
By involving the Military Police and reserve battalions, additional mechanisms are established to ensure effective oversight and smooth reintegration of returning troops. However, servicemembers should be prepared for a more extended administrative process, which may influence their decision to come back to active duty.