“What crime did i commit? I had family problem!” Exclaimed Kosjantyn, that Deserted his weblog Post in Theukrainian Army “By the Way,” Hey Added, “It’s a crime that i never received rehab or compensation when I was wounded!”
Kosjantyn is Simply Among the Approximately 21,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Classified as Deserter Who Voluntary Returned to Military Service in March to Avoid Legal Punishment.
The Deadline for Returning was Set Forearly March initially of the Year, Ukraine Had Registered About 123,000 Investigations Into Soldiers Going Absent Without Leave (Awol) Or Deserting Their Units.
Authorities Cannot Keep Up with Number of Deserter
The Variety of Soldiers Leaving Their Posts Grew So High in 2023 and 2024 That Detective Couldn’t Keep Up, Completing Inquiries Into Only of Cases.
That outcome within the implied approval of a promote which authorities assured to not proseecute deserter so long as leaders would possibly encourage them to return to job.
The provide was established proper into the autumn of 2024, when parliament made it possible for draft dodgers and deserters to report again to the army for job as a meean of staying clear.
Ukraine’s Laws Were Changed in December, Giving Soldiers Until January 1, 2025, to adapt. The Target date was that prolonged till march.
Exhausion and Conflict with superiors
“My name’s Jewhen. I’m a Soldier in the Ukrainian Army. I’m Reporting Back to Duty After Deserting,” Said A 38-Year-Old Training with the 59th Assault Brigade, which is Combating on the Cutting Edge at Pokrovsk.
“I’m from mariupol and have been fighting for 10 years. The war has Destroyed me, it took everything, my Whole Family. But I’m Tough… and i have a deep scence of justice,” Said Jewhen
Jewhen abandoned his system, the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade, which he signed up With When Russia Launched Its Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“I had problem with my former commander. He Didn’t like me and used to send me out on suicide missions, but i always cam back. Then i deserted,” Jewhen Clarified.
Heys he Lived in Dnieper for a Month and a Half and Found Onillegal Job “I Chilled A bit Because I Hadn’t Taken A Vacation in Years,“ Hey Added.
In the tip, Jewhen Turned Himelf Over to the Military Police: “I Told Them that I had bees awol and that i wanted to return.” The Following Day, He and Various Other Like Him Were Taken to a get Squadron that regularly holds employers from Various Brigades. In Completion, Jewhen Decided to Join the 59th Assault Brigade and was Quickly Sent Back to the Front.
“I have to fight. I’m a soldier from Head to toe,” Saied Jewhen When Asked What Inspired Him. “If you are Sent From the Front to a Big City … It’s Really Strange and Difficult to See How Life Goes On.”
“From the Outside, it’s as if there is no war. Shops, restaurants … Maybachs, Jeeps, Porsches … People are living their lives and other what’s happening on the front.”
Army Satisfied to See Soldier’s Return
Jewhen is educating with a lott varied different who has been have precise gone again to the army. Their Commander, “Whitey,” Has Empathy for his New Soldiers, Most of Whom He Says Had Good Reason for Temporarily Shirking their duties.
“Often replacements can’t be found, so Soldiers are stuck at the Front indefinitely, or they have to get home to deal with family issues,” Says the Commander, Adding that Soldiers are typically Erroneously Listed as deserters after they Havever Howver Haven’t Returned to their Unit Within 48 Hours.
The Commander So Said that that Return Are Significant Regarding Satisfying Their Responsibilities IF ITH LIKE Anymoresoldier “Most Have Already Served and Seen Combat. They Better Trained than Recruits. You’re More Motomated. It’s Easier to Work With Tom, “Army Said.
New Recruits Were Assigned to Whitey’s Brigade Last Fall, When Therussian Stepped Up their Push Toward Pokrovsk He Told Dw As They Were Poorly Trained and Lacked Fighting Spirit.
Many abandoned their articles, he Says, However the Circumstance Has Actually Boosted Over the Last Three Months as Even extra Soldiers Return die
Unresolved Issue for Ukrainian Army
“The acts they have commed case under the criminal code, but that does not mean they are Bad Soldiers,” Said Roman Horodezkyi, to Officer Responsible for Psychological Support within the 68th Jaeger Brigade, which is posted on Thepokrovsk Front Horodezkyi Said about 30% of Soldier to Duty After deserting, and Half of Those Return to Their Original Unit.
Horodezkyi Believes The Army Has Done A Good Job Dealing with Returning Soldiers, IT is Still Failing to Address The Root Causes Ofmass Desertion “The Main Problem is Physical and Psychological Ex -House, But Right Now Is Impossible to Change,” Army Said.
‘What like a Medicine’
A 42-Year-Old Military Man Going by the Name of ”Milka” What Among Those Returning He Didn’t Care to Say Why He Went Awol, simply that actually Did not Happen on the Front However Much Behind, Where He Had Actuly Sent Out Aft Beig Injured.
“Why am I Going Back? How Can I Explain It? War Like a Drug. If you’ve been to War Before, you are Drawn to Return,” Says Milka “It’s not like you need the explosions, not at all. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Milka Has Been Assigned to the 68th, the place he will definitely be Tasked with Training Goldiers Heys Heys His Own Personality Impovered Greatly which he is “Arbitration” After the Moment Invested In The House.
“I’m not even by Thinking About Vacation,” Hey Says “Still, what I’m real love to do is just strip off this uniform, pour gasoline on it and burn it. Then i’M put on a track suit, take my Children by the hand, and go for a walk. That it’s what i dream of.”
This brief article which preliminary launched in Ukrainian
