Ukrainian courts make hundred rulings not to imprison soldiers for first AWOL

This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation.

‘In October alone, based on State Bureau of Investigation materials, courts in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn, Zakarpattia, and Ternopil regions made about a hundred decisions not to imprison the military but to allow them to return to service,’ the article says.

The SBI notes that in Lviv, a court ruled on a military man who left his unit in Donetsk region without permission in March. During the pre-trial investigation, the man was detained and subsequently notified of being suspected of war crimes.

‘The detainee explained that he had been on the frontline for a long time and simply could not bear the pressure, but regretted his actions. Taking into account that the serviceman committed such an offense for the first time and is ready to continue his service, the court ruled to release him from criminal liability under Part 5 of Article 401 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,' the State Bureau of Investigation explains.

At the end of October, the Volodymyr-Volynskyi City Court of Volyn region released from criminal liability a serviceman who had left his military unit without permission in November 2023. The man repented of his actions and received a written consent from the commander of the military unit to reinstate him in service. Based on this, the court decided to release him from criminal liability.

The Bureau adds that the offense of unjustified sabotage committed in combat circumstances is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

‘However, those who have found themselves in such a situation for the first time have a chance to return to the ranks and help their brothers in arms to defend the country,’ the statement said.

• On October 8, media reported that in the Dnipro region, the Novomoskovsk district court decided not to imprison a soldier who left his unit without proper orders in December 2023. However, he will continue to serve in another military unit.