An interagency meeting was held at the Ministry of Defence to discuss AWOL prevention

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine hosted an interagency meeting to address problematic issues related to Absent Without Leave (AWOL) incidents among service members.

The meeting was chaired by Brigadier General of Justice Serhii Melnyk, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine. 

Participants included representatives from the Military Law Enforcement Service, the State Bureau of Investigation, the  Prosecutor General's Office, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the Pension Fund of Ukraine, as well as heads of relevant structural units of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The attendees discussed the root causes and challenges associated with AWOL, evaluated its impact on military discipline and combat readiness, and explored effective mechanisms to prevent such violations. 

Particular attention was given to measures aimed at deterring AWOL incidents and ensuring proper oversight.

“Absent Without Leave is a serious offense that undermines military discipline and adversely affects the combat effectiveness of units. Preventing such incidents is critical to maintaining law and order within the ranks, ensuring the effective execution of combat missions, and strengthening the nation’s defense capabilities,” emphasized Serhii Melnyk.

The meeting concluded with a decision to develop concrete proposals from each agency for further collaborative efforts under the coordination of an interagency commission led by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.