Recent changes in Ukraine’s military recruitment policies have led to a decline in the number of soldiers willing to return after unauthorized absence. A recruiter from a combat unit highlighted that the lack of choice regarding unit assignments is a significant deterrent for experienced personnel.
According to the recruiter, individuals with specialized skills, such as expertise in ground robotic systems, are particularly disinclined to rejoin the military under the current system, which does not allow them to select their preferred units. Instead, assignments are made without input from the returning soldiers, leading to dissatisfaction and reluctance to return.
Previously, military units had the autonomy to engage with returning personnel, offering motivation and assurances of placement in specific brigades or roles. However, a directive from the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, effective December 2025, has mandated that recommendations from units be disregarded. Consequently, the distribution of returning soldiers is now governed by quotas set by the General Staff, effectively removing the option for individuals to choose their service locations. This shift has negatively impacted recruitment efforts.
Recruiters have reported that the state does not recognize the return of soldiers after unauthorized absence as part of recruitment. They are actively working to encourage these individuals to come back through advertising, interviews, and various outreach initiatives. However, the General Staff does not consider these efforts as part of the recruitment process.
This approach is intended to deter unauthorized departures aimed at unit transfers, according to military sources consulted. Previously, soldiers had exploited the transfer system to change units, as formal transfer requests often failed.
Many units, especially those engaged in active combat, receive limited reinforcements from returning soldiers. Some combat brigades are permitted to replenish their ranks from reserve battalions, but this is restricted to a small number of individuals. Units unable to utilize this mechanism typically recruit returning personnel through legal channels, which can be a lengthy process, often taking between two to five months.
Sources indicate that the inability to choose a unit is demotivating for potential returnees and complicates the replenishment of military ranks. Without a change in policy, the number of individuals willing to return after unauthorized absence is likely to remain low.
On March 2, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced an audit of Ukraine’s battlefield losses aimed at identifying key issues and facilitating informed decision-making for systemic solutions.
In January, prior to his confirmation as Defense Minister, Fedorov stated that around two million citizens were currently missing, with 200,000 classified as unauthorized absentees.
The Office of the Prosecutor General previously reported that nearly 300,000 cases related to unauthorized absence and desertion have been initiated since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, with the majority of cases opened in 2025.
The recent changes in Ukraine's military recruitment policies have led to a decrease in soldiers willing to return after unauthorized absence, primarily due to the lack of choice in unit assignments. This situation complicates the replenishment of military ranks and raises concerns about the effectiveness of current recruitment strategies.