The Myrhorod City District Court of Poltava Region sentenced a serviceman who twice abandoned his place of service to 5 years and 1 month in prison. This decision can be appealed within 30 days.
According to the Unified State Register of Court Decisions, the convicted person is a Kyiv resident who was mobilized during the war and served as a grenade launcher in the security department.
The first violation occurred on March 16, 2024. The soldier left the unit, explaining this by the fact that his health was allegedly incorrectly assessed by the military medical commission (MMC).
After the escape, the man sought medical attention to clarify his diagnosis, but he was not prescribed inpatient treatment. Having voluntarily returned to duty on April 11, the serviceman reported that he had encountered harassment from his command.
According to him, his superiors allegedly incited other servicemen to use physical force against him. In response, he called the police and the military law enforcement service, who took him to the hospital to be tested for intoxication. After that, the man left the unit for the second time and went to Kyiv, never returning to duty.
On May 27, he was detained by officers of the State Bureau of Investigation, after which he was held in custody.
The court found the serviceman guilty of desertion and desertion. He was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in prison.
On November 21, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law on voluntary return to service for military personnel who have voluntarily left their unit or deserted for the first time. The law allows such servicemen to return without significant consequences if they do so voluntarily.
Since the law came into effect, more than 7,000 servicemen who had previously committed a crime have returned to duty. However, in cases of repeated violations, as in the case of the convicted grenade launcher, the law provides for severe sanctions.
