Photo: National Guard

Facts of absent without leave units (AWOL) in the National Guard of Ukraine are not widespread, fighters do not flee their positions, but simply do not return to their permanent deployment points, says National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko.

In an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, answering a question about the presence of cases of AWOL in the ranks of the National Guard, Pivnenko said: "Not massively, but they are there. It’s not that they not flee from positions, they simply do not return to points of permanent deployment. They leave - and do not return from hospitals, vacations and days off."

According to the commander of the National Guard, the reasons for AWOL are different, but in connection with the adopted legislative changes, which provide for the release of a soldier who voluntarily left the unit from criminal liability in the event of his return to the unit before January 1, 2025, many are returning to duty.

"This essentially gave many the opportunity to correct their decisions or rethink them. And now they are back in the unit, with renewed support, payments and no criminal record," Pivnenko said.

"In these last weeks, we have already reached the point that 60-70% of AWOL soldiers are returning to service," he stressed.