Military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova spoke about the “tricks” used by some commanders in the army to lure valuable personnel. Soldiers apply for temporary transfers via AWOL (absent without leave), and then return to the necessary unit. This leads to a large number of unauthorized absences.
Some units acted dishonestly, guiding soldiers on the steps to take regarding AWOL, resulting in complaints from commanders. It has been noted that training military personnel is a lengthy process that requires investment from the unit, especially pertinent for specialists in narrow fields, such as UAV operators.
Thanks to the control of the Main Directorate for the Protection of Military Personnel's Rights through the “Army +” portal, the number of complaints about transfer refusals has decreased, and the system has become more transparent. The ombudsman also pointed out the reasons for unauthorized absences: low motivation among recruits and threats to their lives. People's Deputy Igor Lutsenko believes that AWOL is one of the main problems of the Ukrainian army.