Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have the right to be released from service for family reasons in the event of the death or disappearance of a close relative while defending the state. This right is provided for by current legislation and is valid during martial law.
These are cases when, while performing tasks to ensure the national security and defense of Ukraine, a husband or wife, son or daughter, father or mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother or sister of a serviceman died or went missing. The norm also applies to persons who participated in repelling and deterring the armed aggression of the Russian Federation both in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and throughout the territory of Ukraine during the period of martial law.
The basis for such exemption is the Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service." In particular, the relevant right is enshrined in subparagraph "d" of paragraph 2, part 4, article 26 of this law.
It is important that the right to discharge is preserved even in cases where the death of a serviceman did not occur as a result of direct damage by the enemy. This applies to situations where a sudden deterioration in health occurred during the performance of combat or official tasks - a stroke, heart attack, or other critical condition.
Even if death occurred in a medical facility some time after such events, if there is proper documentary evidence, these circumstances are recognized as related to the performance of military duty. In such a case, close relatives of the deceased or missing serviceman have the legal right to be released from service for family reasons.
