Military personnel have been unable to get responses to reports for months: what really lies behind AWOL cases
The problem of unauthorized absence from a military unit increasingly goes beyond purely criminal issues. Behind the dry numbers of proceedings are stories of servicemen who for months cannot get their reports reviewed, obtain lawful leave, transfer, or discharge from service due to family circumstances, health conditions, or contract completion. Against this background, the professional community is increasingly talking about the fact that the reasons for AWOL are related not only to discipline but also to systemic problems in military management, psychological exhaustion, and the lack of an effective mechanism to protect servicemen's rights.
Systemic reasons for AWOL in the military
The National Association of Advocates of Ukraine stated that the problem of unauthorized absence from a military unit requires not only a criminal-legal assessment but also an analysis of the causes leading to such cases.
Among the key factors named were unreviewed reports, problems with rotation, medical support, psychological exhaustion of servicemen, and the absence of effective mechanisms to appeal against the inaction of the command.
According to discussion participants, the motivation of servicemen cannot be based solely on fear of punishment. Cases of rights violations, ignoring lawful requests, or the inability to resolve problems within the service negatively affect the level of trust in state institutions and the military system.
How many proceedings for AWOL and desertion have been opened in Ukraine
Statistics previously announced publicly indicate that since the beginning of the full-scale war, about 235,000 criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 407 of the Criminal Code regarding unauthorized absence from a military unit and approximately 54,000 proceedings under Article 408 of the Criminal Code regarding desertion.
Lawyers emphasize that AWOL is often a consequence of systemic problems in the military. Among the reasons named were personnel overload, lack of proper rotation, difficulties with medical support, and psychological exhaustion. At the same time, they stressed that increasing responsibility without addressing the causes of the problem does not provide a long-term effect.
Problems with servicemen's reports
Special attention was given to situations where servicemen cannot exercise their right to discharge, transfer, or leave due to unreviewed reports or lack of response from the command. In particular, cases were mentioned where requests remain unanswered even in the presence of family circumstances, the need to care for relatives with disabilities, or after contract completion.
Additionally, paper reports sent by mail sometimes return after the storage period expires, and the "Army+" app records cases of missed deadlines for reviewing requests without providing written responses.
What changes regarding AWOL and reports are proposed by the UNBA
Among the proposals voiced during the discussion are the introduction of independent control over the activities of military units and the moral-psychological state of personnel, improvement of the transfer mechanism for servicemen through "Army+", as well as the creation of an effective mechanism for the prompt appeal of commanders' inaction.
Furthermore, it is proposed to consider the possibility of amending the Criminal Code to exempt from criminal liability for AWOL in cases where a serviceman had lawful grounds for discharge but could not exercise this right due to the inaction of authorized officials.
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