Ukraine's General Staff Tackles AWOL Crisis With Systemic Reforms

AWOL in Wartime: A Problem That Goes Beyond Discipline

Unauthorized absence from military units — known in Ukraine as samovil'ne zalyshennya chastyny (СЗЧ) — remains one of the most persistent personnel challenges facing Ukraine's Armed Forces during the ongoing war. In late November, the General Staff convened a dedicated working meeting to identify practical measures for streamlining the return of absent servicemembers to active duty.

The Documentation Bottleneck

One of the most concrete obstacles when reintegrating AWOL personnel is restoring their service documentation — particularly records confirming completion of basic military training (BZVP) and specialty training courses.

To address this, the General Staff is developing a unified electronic database of training completion records. Once operational, this system is expected to:

• Quickly verify each servicemember's training level;
• Prevent redundant retraining for already-completed programs;
• Speed up reintegration into operational units.

The database is currently still in development, but its creation signals a broader push toward digitizing military personnel records.

Psychological Support as Prevention

The General Staff has acknowledged that punitive or administrative measures alone cannot solve the AWOL problem. Units with elevated AWOL rates are now required to establish psychological support centers or working groups. These teams will work proactively with unit commanders to identify at-risk personnel and reduce the likelihood of unauthorized absences.

This approach reflects a growing institutional understanding that AWOL is often driven by psychological exhaustion and stress rather than deliberate insubordination — a nuance that matters when designing effective responses.

Designated Responsibility — New Policy or Old Reminder?

Under a new directive, every military unit must designate an officer — at the level of deputy commander or higher — specifically responsible for:

• Maintaining military discipline;
• Monitoring personnel morale and psychological wellbeing;
• Preventing unauthorized absences.

Notably, most of these duties are already defined in Ukraine's Internal Service Regulations. Critics might view this directive as an institutional reminder rather than a genuinely new policy. Still, formalizing accountability at a senior level could improve follow-through on the ground.

Looking Ahead

The combination of digital record-keeping, psychological support infrastructure, and clearer chains of accountability represents a more holistic approach to the AWOL challenge. The real test will be whether these measures translate into meaningful change at the unit level — not just on paper, but in daily command practice.