Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Clarifies Leave Procedures for Servicemen: Documents, Registration, and Traveling Abroad

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has published detailed clarifications for servicemen regarding the procedure for granting annual leave, preparing documents, and complying with military registration requirements during rest. The information, reported through RBC-Ukraine, applies to all categories of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service whose data are verified in digital systems. The key principle emphasized by the agency is that leave is granted exclusively by the order of the unit commander, and a report or verbal agreement alone does not constitute a legal basis for departing from the unit.

Leave Ticket and Documents: What to Bring

The form of the leave ticket is established in Appendix 30 to the Instruction on Office Work in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, approved by the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated January 31, 2024, No. 40. The Ministry of Defense strongly recommends checking the leave ticket before leaving the unit: if an error is found, one must contact the office work department to correct it. The leave ticket is valid only when presented together with an identity document, so taking only the ticket is insufficient. The document should be kept throughout the trip, as it is required both for registration and de-registration at the place of leave. For annual primary leave and family circumstance leave, travel time across Ukraine to the resting place and back is not counted towards the leave duration, but cannot exceed two days in one direction.

Electronic Military Registration Document in the Army+ App

Starting from July 2026, the electronic military registration document (eMRD) is available in the Army+ app for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service whose data are verified in digital systems. The electronic document has the same legal force as a paper military ID or officer certificate. Its validity is verified via a QR code using the built-in scanner in the app; the code is valid for three minutes, after which it automatically updates. However, using the eMRD and verifying the QR code requires internet access. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense advises additionally bringing a paper military ID or officer certificate — they may be needed in the absence of a connection. Additionally, the agency warns that if only the "Defender's Certificate" and not the "Military Document" is displayed in the app, this is insufficient to replace the military registration document, and a paper counterpart must be available in such cases.

Registration at the Place of Rest

Upon arrival at the place of leave, a serviceman is obliged to register no later than the following day. To do this, one must contact the Military Law Enforcement Service (VSP) management body in the garrison or the nearest territorial recruitment and social support center (TCC and SP). One day before departing back to the place of service, it is necessary to de-register. If the serviceman's location is more than 30 kilometers away from the respective VSP management body or TCC and SP, registration and de-registration can be carried out at the local self-government body. During both procedures, one should ensure that the corresponding marks are entered into the leave ticket. Submitting an electronic report via Army+ does not exempt one from the requirement to issue a leave ticket and comply with military registration procedures at the place of rest.

Traveling Abroad: Commander's Permission

A serviceman can travel abroad during leave only with the permission of the unit commander. The decision is made individually based on a report, which must indicate the dates of departure and return, the city and address of stay, the mode of transport, and the border crossing point. According to the Ministry of Defense's clarification, the report must be submitted to the unit commander no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the scheduled leave. The report can also be submitted via the Army+ app, but the mere fact of its submission does not mean that traveling abroad is permitted: a separate decision by the commander is required.

Unforeseen Circumstances and Illness During Leave

If a serviceman falls ill during leave, they are obliged to immediately inform their immediate commander or the unit duty officer by phone or via messenger. It is important to keep proof of the notification, such as correspondence. In case of a severe condition, an ambulance must first be called or the nearest medical facility must be visited. After stabilization, the medics must be informed about the military service and the unit number, and the command must be informed of the hospitalization. If the illness coincides with the period of annual primary leave, the unit commander can postpone it to another period or extend it by the number of sick days. The basis for this is a certificate from a healthcare institution, certified by the head of the TCC and SP. Such a procedure is provided for by paragraph 187 of the Regulation on the Performance of Military Service by Citizens of Ukraine in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.