Soldiers who went AWOL are being deprived of the right to choose which unit they return to – General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denies media reports that soldiers who went AWOL (SZZH) are now being transferred only to assault units, but in fact has confirmed that such soldiers are losing the right to choose which unit they return to.

It is noted that a number of measures have indeed been adopted to change the process of transfer and return from AWOL.

In particular, when assigning servicemen who have returned from AWOL to positions in new military units, intermediate levels in the processing of documents — such as army corps, operational commands, and others — have been removed. Appointment documents are now submitted directly from the military unit to the General Staff.

However, servicemen who, after AWOL, have been placed in reserve battalions “are sent to all combat brigades that require replenishment of personnel, including the Air Assault Forces (DShV) and assault units.”

At the same time, the General Staff confirmed that soldiers who went AWOL will no longer have the right to independently choose the unit to which they are transferred.

“The new measures make it pointless for servicemen to go AWOL in the hope of transferring to a unit of their choice,” the statement says.

Given that the greatest shortage of soldiers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is currently at the front line, it is most likely that those returning from AWOL are being sent there in the majority of cases.

Recall that earlier the media reported that Ukrainian soldiers who had left their units without authorization were, upon return to service, always being sent to assault units.