The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reminded that the simplified mechanism for voluntary return to service after medical leave is in effect for a limited period — until September 20, 2026, inclusive. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the department's press service. The initiative is aimed at enabling servicemen who have undergone treatment and recovered to quickly return to active duty by their own choice, without bureaucratic barriers.
September 20 deadline: who makes it in time
The right to a simplified return is retained by those servicemen whose medical leave status was recorded by June 12, 2026, inclusive. This date serves as the starting point for the 100-day "window" built into the experimental project: counting 100 days from June 12 leads exactly to the September 20 deadline. After this date, the simplified procedure is expected to be phased out, and return to service will take place under the general rules.
More than 70 units to choose from
A list of more than 70 units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine is open for return under the simplified procedure. It includes mechanized, assault, and artillery brigades, unmanned systems units, as well as units of the National Guard and the State Special Transport Service. Servicemen can review the current list and choose the desired unit on the official portal szch.army.gov.ua.
How the report is filed and what the "On the way" status means
The return procedure is built around the "Army+" platform. After the report is approved, the serviceman is assigned the "On the way" status, which confirms his voluntary intention to return to service and gives him five days to arrive at the chosen brigade. After being enlisted in the unit, his pay, rations, and other entitlements, which had been suspended during his medical leave, are restored.
Experimental project and alternative mechanism
Recall that in June the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 767, which launched an experimental project giving servicemen on medical leave 100 days for a "quick" return to the army. In parallel, an alternative mechanism operates through a single Army (Ground Forces) recruiting center: it also allows a serviceman to independently choose a new unit from an approved list and guarantees protection from transfer to other units for six months without the serviceman's personal consent.
