How are cases of sexual violence documented in Ukraine, and what happens afterward: details
If a service member leaves a military unit without authorization or fails to return from leave, a business trip, or medical treatment without a valid reason, the command first records his absence.
Upon discovering the absence, the immediate commander attempts to contact the service member, ascertains the situation through his fellow soldiers, and, if necessary, through his relatives. The absence is reported to higher authorities, and if the service member has not returned without a valid reason within three hours, a corresponding report is filed.
The information is then forwarded to the Military Law Enforcement Service and higher command, and the data is entered into the relevant systems. The status may be displayed in “Army+” with a red banner reading “Absence from duty recorded.”
During the first three days, the military unit and the Military Law Enforcement Service carry out immediate measures to determine the soldier’s whereabouts. At the same time, an official investigation is launched to clarify the circumstances of the absence from duty and the reasons that may have contributed to it.
If the absence lasts more than three days and does not occur in a combat situation, the servicemember’s actions may constitute a criminal offense under Articles 407 or 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Penalties under these articles range, depending on the circumstances, from 5 to 12 years of imprisonment. At the same time, the service member may voluntarily return to duty even after the three-day period has expired.
If an internal investigation indicates a possible criminal offense, the information is forwarded to the General Military Prosecutor’s Office, the State Bureau of Investigation, the specialized prosecutor’s office for defense matters, and the high command. If there are legal grounds, the information is entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations, and a pre-trial investigation is initiated.
It is important to note that the status of a “missing in service” person in the “Army+” system and a criminal search are two different things. The initial search for a servicemember is conducted by the military unit and the Military Police. However, if a person is placed on a wanted list as part of criminal proceedings, law enforcement agencies—specifically the National Police, acting on the instructions of a State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) investigator—may become involved.
You can check whether a “wanted person” status has been recorded in “Army+.” If the information has not appeared, the Ministry of Defense advises updating the app, logging in again, and waiting up to 15 minutes. If the status has not updated, you should contact the nearest regional department of the Military Registration and Enlistment Service.
A simplified procedure for returning from the Special Service is also provided. Through September 20, 2026, military personnel who meet the specified conditions may submit a report and select a unit for further service. This applies, in particular, to those whose absence without leave was recorded on or before June 12, 2026.
However, returning to a military unit does not automatically mean the termination of criminal proceedings. In the case of a first-time desertion, a service member may apply to an investigator, prosecutor, or court with a request to continue service. The final decision regarding exemption from criminal liability is made by the court.
Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
As a reminder, a deserter who was passing information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Russia was detained in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
In Kyiv, a deserter who was registering Starlink accounts for Russians was detained.
