Payments following discharge from military service in 2026: how service personnel can have them reinstated

This has been reported by the National Bank of Ukraine on the ‘Garazd’ platform and by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Which payments are suspended following unauthorised absence

Pay is suspended from the date on which it is established that a service member has left their military unit or place of service without authorisation. This applies not only to the basic salary but also to monthly bonuses and additional remuneration for participation in combat operations.

The service member is also removed from the food, clothing and other supply schemes. The period of unauthorised absence is not counted towards length of service.

The NBU’s ‘Garazd’ platform specifies that combat payments are suspended, in particular, in the event of unauthorised absence, desertion, or the removal or suspension of a service member from their duties.

During unauthorised absence, the service member and their family members lose their entitlement to benefits, guarantees and compensation associated with military service. These rights can only be reinstated following an official return to service and re-enrolment on the personnel register.

Will they pay for the period of unauthorised absence?

No pay is accrued during the period of unauthorised absence, nor is any compensation paid upon return.

The monthly allowance is not paid for the entire month in which the service member was absent without leave. This rule applies even if the person returned to their unit before the end of that same month.

Additional remuneration, including combat allowances, is not paid for the period of unauthorised absence or for the month of return. From the month following the resumption of service, bonuses and additional payments may be paid on the usual basis — depending on the tasks performed and orders from the command.

How to return from voluntary leave by 20 September 2026

From 12 June 2026, a temporary 100-day programme for the return of service personnel following temporary leave is in force in Ukraine. This programme is available to personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the State Special Transport Service whose military service was recorded up to and including 12 June 2026.

Applications must be submitted by 20 September 2026 at the latest. The programme allows service personnel to choose their own military unit from an approved list, but only within their own organisation: those from the Armed Forces of Ukraine may return to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, those from the National Guard of Ukraine to the National Guard of Ukraine, and those from the State Special Transport Service to the State Special Transport Service.

The report can be submitted via the ‘Army+’ app. To do this, open the ‘Services’ section, go to ‘Reports’ and select ‘Return to service after temporary exemption’. The serviceman then specifies the chosen unit, their preferred area of service, and their experience, and, if necessary, attaches documents relating to their education, health or professional skills.

Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the Airborne Assault Troops (AAT) may also apply directly to their chosen unit. For AFU servicemen, it is also possible to apply via the 1st Army Recruiting Centre or the 2nd Airborne Assault Troops Recruiting Centre.

Only one application may be submitted at a time.

How long does it take to process a request?

For service personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the Airborne Assault Forces (AAF), the request is processed within seven days. Once approved, you must report to your chosen unit within five days.

For National Guard servicemen, the review may take up to 96 hours. Once approved, an order from the Commander of the National Guard is prepared, and the serviceman must report to the new unit within 48 hours of being notified that the order has been signed.

Once the request has been approved, the status ‘On the way’ appears in the ‘Army+’ app. This confirms that the service member is voluntarily returning to service.

When will financial allowances be reinstated?

Food rations are resumed on the day the serviceman arrives at the unit. Pay and issue of kit are resumed from the date of enrolment on the personnel roll.

According to the official website of the programme for returning from the reserve, the processing usually takes up to seven days after arrival. This period may be extended if the unit requires additional verification of documents.

The basic salary is determined based on the service member’s most recent post. If, at the same time as their reinstatement, they are appointed to a new post, the payment is calculated based on the new basic salary.

A service member who has returned under the temporary programme must not be transferred to another unit within six months without their written consent.

What will happen after 20 September

Servicemen who do not take advantage of the programme by 20 September 2026 will lose the opportunity to choose their unit themselves under the simplified procedure. The same procedure will apply to those whose status as reservists was confirmed after 12 June.

In these cases, their return to service will take place via reserve battalions and the judicial procedures provided for by law. As a result, the resumption of service and payments may take longer.

If a serviceman has committed an unauthorised absence or desertion for the first time during martial law, he may apply to an investigator, a prosecutor or a court with a request to resume service. Written consent from the unit commander is also required for exemption from criminal liability. The final decision is made by the court, as provided for in Part 5 of Article 401 of the Criminal Code.

Returning under the temporary programme does not automatically result in the termination of criminal proceedings. The issue of exemption from liability is decided separately in accordance with the Criminal Code.

Is absence of up to three days punishable?

Absence of no more than three days does not usually fall under paragraph five of Article 407 of the Criminal Code, provided that the unauthorised absence did not occur in a combat situation. However, it remains a breach of military discipline and may affect bonuses and other payments.

If the absence lasted for more than three days during a state of war, the serviceman may face between five and ten years’ imprisonment. If the investigation establishes that the aim was to evade military service, the actions may be classified as desertion — in which case the duration of the absence is not a determining factor.

For advice on the current repatriation programme, the Ministry of Defence’s helpline is available on 0 800 605 100. Calls are accepted daily from 09:00 to 20:00.

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