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Veteran Sentenced to 5 Years for Refusing to Serve in TCK: Son Defends Ukraine at the Front

Ветеран отримав 5 років ув'язнення через відмову від служби в ТКК: його син захищає Україну на передовій. Photo: hvylya.net
The veteran, whose son is fighting at the front, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for unlawfully leaving his military unit. The court made this decision on September 1, 2025.


The charges were brought against the serviceman for his crime under part 5 of Article 407 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This related to the unlawful departure from the military unit under martial law for more than three days.



Case Circumstances


The soldier was assigned as a shooter-assistant grenade launcher in the city TCK security unit. He did not report for duty, citing his health condition. The soldier returned to the unit on March 8.



Defendant's Position



  • The soldier was in contact but did not appear due to his health condition.

  • He was ready to continue serving, but not in TCK.

  • Having two children to support, he claimed he could not be absent.



Prosecution Evidence


Documents from the military unit confirmed the soldier's breach of duty. Medical findings about his health condition were also presented.



Witness Testimonies


The commander confirmed that the soldier failed to perform his duties and frequently excused himself from them.



Court Ruling


The court found the serviceman guilty and sentenced him to 5 years of imprisonment. The term will start counting from the moment the sentence comes into force.



  • Pre-trial detention from April 21, 2025, has also been credited to the term.

  • The preventive measure of custody has been extended.



An appeal can be filed within 30 days to the Chernihiv Court of Appeals via the Desnyi District Court.



The news is written in a lively style, showing that the war veteran received punishment for unlawfully leaving his military unit. Among the justifications is a reference to health condition and difficult circumstances at the soldier's home. The defendant's position and the court's conclusions are presented in a simple and accessible form.