This Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 767 dated June 12, 2026, introduces an experimental project aimed at encouraging the voluntary return to the ranks of the Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service (SSTS), and the National Guard of military personnel who previously committed unauthorized absence from a unit (AWOL) or desertion. The project will operate for 100 days from the moment the resolution enters into force, but no longer than the duration of the state of martial law. The primary goal is to increase the state’s defense capability by returning experienced personnel to the performance of their duties. It is important to note that this mechanism provides for a simplified procedure for submitting a report and transferring to a selected military unit.
**Structure and Main Provisions:**
The Resolution consists of a regulatory part that defines the project coordinators (the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs) and a detailed Procedure for the project’s implementation. The Procedure is divided into three blocks: for the Armed Forces, the SSTS, and the National Guard, each of which has its own specific features of interaction. Furthermore, the document introduces technical amendments to the previous Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1291 dated November 12, 2024, regarding mechanisms for the transfer of military personnel at their own initiative, by excluding provisions that are now regulated by this experimental project.
**Key Provisions for Practical Use:**
* **Methods for submitting a report:** Military personnel may submit a report through an electronic cabinet (the Portal), recruitment centers, or directly to the selected military unit.
* **Verification procedure:** The military unit is obligated to review the report within 7 days, verify the military personnel’s status through the Military Law Enforcement Service, and make a decision regarding approval or denial.
* **Guarantees:** In the event the report is approved, the military personnel is enrolled in the lists of temporarily arrived personnel, and their food, monetary, and other types of provisions are restored.
* **Transfer:** Upon enrollment in the new unit, the procedure for moving (transferring) from the previous place of service is initiated, which includes the preparation of the corresponding orders and the transfer of personal files.
* **Legal status:** The Resolution expressly states that exemption from criminal liability for AWOL or desertion (Articles 407, 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is carried out in the manner prescribed by law, which is a critically important aspect for the legal security of the military personnel.
