100 days to return from СЗЧ: the Ministry of Defence explained the new rules for military personnel

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported the details of a new mechanism for the return of servicemembers who left their unit without authorization.

This concerns those servicemembers whose case of СЗЧ was recorded before 11 June 2026. A 100-day window will be opened for them during which they can voluntarily return to the ranks through a simplified procedure.

The new mechanism is part of a comprehensive transformation of military service. The Ministry of Defence says it should provide clear service terms, fair pay, and deferment guarantees after the end of a contract.

Return from СЗЧ under the new procedure should occur without passing through reserve battalions, complex bureaucracy, or long waits. A servicemember will be able to choose a unit from a specified list via the updated functionality of the Army+ app.

The mechanism will take effect from the date the respective resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine comes into force.

At the first stage it will be available to servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service of Ukraine. The National Guard of Ukraine is expected to join this mechanism later.

Important condition: return is only possible within the same structure from which the servicemember committed the СЗЧ. That is, if the servicemember served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they can return to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Reports will be verified by digital means and the process will take no more than 7 calendar days.

For the return one of 55 units can be chosen — the most effective in the ePoints ranking of the situational awareness system Delta. The list of such units will be available in the Army+ app.

A report can be submitted in several ways: via the Army+ app, via the 1st or 2nd Recruitment Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — for servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or directly to the selected unit — for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service of Ukraine.

There is no need to contact the previous unit.

From the moment of submitting the report until the actual assumption of the post, the servicemember is promised support and individual accompaniment at all stages.

The Army+ app should also display the status “In transit”, which will confirm the servicemember’s return to duty, including when passing checkpoints.

Financial and material provision will be restored on the day the servicemember is entered into the personnel lists of the new military unit. Food provision — immediately on the day of arrival at the unit.

Another important guarantee: for 6 months after being enrolled in the new unit, the servicemember cannot be transferred without their written consent.

Those who do not use the 100-day simplified mechanism will be able to return under the old procedure. The Ministry of Defence explains that in practice this will mean longer processes through reserve battalions, courts, and a prolonged wait for the restoration of payments.

The department emphasizes that this is only the first stage of the comprehensive transformation of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The aim of the changes is to create fair and clear rules that take into account the interests of both the state and servicemembers.

Earlier we wrote:

• 300,000 for an infantryman on the front line: Zelensky announced new contracts and payments in the army
• Major changes to military service in Ukraine are being prepared
• Recruiting does not meet the army’s needs: what officials say
• Budanov explained why Ukraine needs mobilization
• Servicemembers were mobilized to improve performance indicators: officials of three RCTC offices in Ternopil region were charged