
In Prykarpattia, a serviceman has been found guilty twice of desertion and sentenced to 5 years in prison. The corresponding ruling from the Nadvirna District Court of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast has been published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions.
According to the case materials, the man, originally from the village of Voloka in the Chernivtsi region, was mobilized on December 28, 2022, and served as the chief of the platoon's sound reconnaissance unit in the command and artillery reconnaissance battery. On April 11, 2023, he deserted from his place of service and, without valid reasons, remained at home until April 24 of the same year.
"During the court session, the accused fully admitted his guilt in committing the criminal offense. He explained to the court that he was not far from his residence, but since his commander did not allow him to leave, he deserted the military unit without his superior's permission in April 2023 and went home," the case materials state.
Considering all circumstances, the Nadvirna District Court found the man guilty of desertion for more than 3 days under martial law. He was sentenced to 5 years and one month in prison, as provided by part 5 of Article 407 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The case materials also indicate that the man already has a conviction from the Hlyboke District Court of Chernivtsi Oblast, issued in October 2024, also under part 5 of Article 407 (desertion). The circumstances of this crime are not specified in the materials. However, given the principle that a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense, it is likely that the previous conviction was for a different episode of desertion.
The Nadvirna District Court ruled that in this case, the man will serve one sentence - the longer one: 5 years and one month in prison.
Issue of Desertion in the Defense Forces: Latest News
As reported by UNIAN, the Defense Forces are facing a critical problem of mass desertion and self-leaving of service (SLOS) by servicemen. According to military personnel, in some units, the number of deserters exceeds the number of casualties.
According to MP Iryna Friz, a significant portion of cases of self-leaving of units is due to physical and moral abuse of military personnel within their units.