Ukraine hopes to coax back thousands of AWOL troops with their choice of commander and deployment area
Kyiv says troops can use a mobile app to skip much of the return process and deploy immediately to their new, preferred unit.
Ukrainian authorities have introduced a program offering AWOL troops the opportunity to reconvene with the military by selecting from over 70 units, indicating their preferred deployment area, commander, and role. This initiative aims to address the significant issue of soldiers absent without leave, which has plagued Ukraine's military since the onset of the war.
The announcement comes as part of a voluntary return program that began in June, with the goal of bringing back tens of thousands of AWOL soldiers within 100 days. The defense ministry stated that troops have until September 20 to apply for their return. While the program allows for a level of customization in the redeployment process, there is no guarantee that soldiers will receive their preferred unit or role due to limited positions in certain areas.
Ukraine's defense ministry has been striving to modernize its military structure and retain troops, following previous leadership changes. The new program streamlines the reintegration process, eliminating the need for soldiers to officially report their absence to the military law enforcement service and avoiding potential prison sentences.
Instead, AWOL troops can directly apply to rejoin the military through a website or the Army+ mobile app. The initiative has been met with the addition of a $150,000 bonus to incentivize soldiers to return. The program reflects Ukraine's ongoing efforts to bolster its military ranks and enhance troop morale amid the challenging circumstances of the ongoing conflict.
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