Vereshchuk Advises Against Expecting Extension For AWOL

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Vereshchuk, reminded that only three and a half weeks remain for voluntary return from being absent without leave (AWOL) and advised against expecting any further extension of this deadline.

She shared this information on Telegram following a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, in which she participated, Ukrinform reports.

"February has begun. Three and a half weeks remain for voluntary return from unauthorized absence. I advise against counting on an extension and urge not to delay your return," Vereshchuk stated.

She noted that most AWOL cases do not occur on the frontlines but rather in training centers, while the fewest cases occur in combat units.

According to Vereshchuk, the committee meeting discussed legislative changes regarding unauthorized absence.

"Of course, such changes must reflect fairness and common sense. But order must be maintained, especially when it comes to defense capability. I share the Committee's view that the relevant legislation should be quite strict. We should not treat AWOL as some kind of reckless adventure, a way to take a vacation, receive medical treatment, or transfer to another unit," the Deputy Head of the Office of the President emphasized.

Read also: Rada extends deadline for voluntary return to service after first AWOL until March

As Ukrinform previously reported, on January 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law extending until March 1 the opportunity for soldiers who went AWOL to voluntarily report back to their military units and be reinstated.

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