President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky signed a law that gives servicemen who left military units for the first time or deserted a chance to return to service without criminal prosecution.
This was reported by URA-Inform with reference to the official website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
< p>The document stipulates that during martial law, military personnel who voluntarily return to their units and express a desire to continue serving may:
- continue military service on those same conditions;
- renew a previously concluded contract;
- gain access to payments of monetary allowance, food and clothing supplies, as well as social benefits.
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“The return of such persons to service is not only a matter of personal responsibility, but also a way to strengthen the defense potential countries” – the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine emphasized.
The law also states that criminal cases opened under Articles 407 (“Unauthorized Abandonment of a Military Unit”) and 408 (“Desertion”) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, will not be an obstacle to continuing service if the servicemen voluntarily return.
This step is an important signal for the military: the state is ready to provide a second chance to those who made a mistake, but realized it and decided to correct the situation.
Meanwhile, Trump has appointed Kellogg as the US special envoy for the war in Ukraine.