More than 70 units open to servicemembers returning after unauthorised absence, Ukraine's Defence Ministry says

A structured route back to military service

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has opened up more options in its voluntary return scheme for personnel who left their units without permission. Those taking part can choose from more than 70 formations belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, and the State Special Transport Service. Applications are being accepted until 20 September 2026, provided the AWOL incident was officially logged before 12 June 2026. The scheme is part of a wider effort to keep the armed forces at full strength while offering troops a clear way back to service.

How to apply for reinstatement

A return request can be filed through the Army+ app, directly with a military unit for the Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service, or at the 1st or 2nd recruiting centre of the Armed Forces. The application should include:

• the preferred branch of service,
• the desired military specialty,
• skills and prior experience.

After the request is approved, the applicant goes straight to the new unit, with no need to go through military service units or reserve battalions.

The list of available formations includes mechanised, assault, airborne, drone, artillery, and other units. The complete brigade list is available on the Defence Ministry's website and in the Army+ app. Once a soldier is reinstated, all forms of support-pay, food, and other allowances-are restored. During the first six months, no one can be transferred to another unit without their written consent.

By widening the list of units, we want to offer more choices: serve in a preferred area, choose a desired position and commander, and make use of previous experience. The army needs drivers, UAV operators, clerks, and riflemen. More than 70 effective formations are ready to accept troops returning from AWOL and give them a simplified path back to fighting, with full support along the way.

Mstyslav Banik, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Andriy Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps, believes that getting around 200,000 AWOL service members back could fundamentally change the situation on the front and allow mobilisation to be paused temporarily. However, the number of positions in certain specialties is limited.

More information about the return programme is available through the Ministry of Defence hotline at 1519.

The initiative is intended not only to bring soldiers back into the ranks but also to strengthen the Armed Forces' combat capability. With the war putting heavy pressure on the military and losses being significant, such measures could be an important element in shoring up the country's defence. A wider choice of roles and units may also encourage more troops to come back, since it gives them a chance to apply their skills in areas that truly matter.