Unauthorized leaving of units is one of the most painful problems for the Ukrainian army. It directly affects the combat capability of units, the possibility of rotations, and the preservation of soldiers’ lives. Serviceman Artem is one of those who went through this path: AWOL, detention, trial and return to service. Today he speaks about it openly, without excuses and without embellishment.
“I was exhausted – both physically and morally”
Artem is 24 years old, he is from Kherson region. At 19 he signed a contract and went to serve — this was in 2020, before the full-scale invasion.
“At first it was conscript service, and then they offered a contract. This was in Odesa. Conditions were more or less. I served as a driver-mechanic on a BMP-2, we went to firing ranges, I was even an instructor at a training center, – the serviceman recalls, – we were not involved in the JFO then”.
The full-scale invasion caught Artem in the unit. Already on February 24 the personnel were evacuated — there were strikes near the place of deployment. According to him, the commanders then without extra explanations said that the war had begun — and that was enough to understand everything. At that time the unit was not involved in combat operations: the servicemen carried out security tasks, including guarding ammunition depots in southern Ukraine.
In 2023 transfers between units began. Artem ended up in another brigade. He was sent to basic general military training, after which he was transferred again. Eventually he went to carry out combat missions directly to the front — to the “zero”.
“They assigned me as a grenadier. But I wanted to learn sapper work and maybe would have stayed there to serve”, — he says.
The first combat sortie was a turning point for the young man. It was winter 2024, the Kupiansk direction. The unit held positions in the field, behind a village.
“After the very first sortie our unit suffered significant losses. Of the guys I went in with, almost no one remained alive”, — says Artem.
During one of the shellings the young man was wounded — he was hit by fragments as a result of an explosive being dropped from an enemy drone. After treatment in the hospital Artem did not return to the unit. According to him, at that time he was exhausted — both physically and morally. That is how he ended up AWOL.
After that he lived outside the military for some time. He says that then it seemed you could just wait it out and over time the situation would somehow resolve itself. However, the feeling of uncertainty did not disappear. Even in civilian life he was constantly in a suspended state.
When Artem recalls that period, he involuntarily falls silent. His gaze drifts to the side as if searching for words. As if afraid to say too much — even now, when it is already behind him.
The escape did not bring freedom
The attempt to leave the country proved unsuccessful.
“The plan was this: either abroad, or back to the military. On Telegram we found a guide who promised to take us to Romania. We gave him money purely for gasoline”, – he says.
The group of travelers was detained. Artem was taken to the TRC, then there was an administrative punishment and assignment to the reserve battalion.
“There was no violence at the TRC. I was not hungry, they gave food. I sat in the reserve battalion for ten days — and they took me to the 704th Separate Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection Brigade”, – the serviceman recalls.
The case regarding unauthorized leaving of the unit was considered in court in an online format.
“Nowhere else to run”
Today Artem is back in the military. He says that this time the service is conscious. According to him, thoughts about returning to service had appeared before, but then he could not dare. Now there are no doubts left.
He speaks about his motivation to continue serving without pomp: “I don’t plan to go AWOL anymore. And there’s nowhere to go anyway”.
The young man plans to sign a contract if there is such an opportunity. When the subject turns to returning to service, Artem noticeably changes. A liveliness appears in his voice.
“If there is an option to sign a one-year contract — I’ll sign. My previous contract is automatically being extended anyway. I’m not against developing, learning something new. Right now there are many opportunities in the military, there is plenty to do and it’s interesting — drones, new specialties. The war is changing — you need to keep up with the times”, – he says.
“I’d like more people to return”
In conclusion Artem says that he would like more servicemen who went AWOL to return and find their place in the units.
“I’d like more people like me to come back from AWOL and find their people. Not to run away, — and he adds — I thought it would get easier in AWOL. But it only got worse”, – he summarizes.