Mykolaiv Court Releases Soldier from Arrest, Orders Return to Service

Mykolaiv court lifted the arrest of the military man who evaded service and returned his bail. He was ordered to report to the military unit, and the command was ordered to confirm his reinstatement.

The Central District Court of Mykolaiv ruled on the case of a serviceman who had left his military unit without permission and was evading service. The court granted the prosecutor's request to release the suspect from criminal liability on condition that he returns to the military unit.

The defendant in the case is a native of Kakhovka, who was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022 during mobilization. He served as a sniper of the third marine division.

In February 2023, the soldier was referred to Kyiv City Hospital No. 1, where he received inpatient treatment. However, after his discharge, he did not return to the location of his military unit, which is located in Mykolaiv region.

On September 18, 2024, he was notified of being suspected of committing a criminal offense under Part 5 of Article 407 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - unauthorized leaving of a military unit under martial law.

In December 2024, the suspect was detained by officers of the Kakhovka District Police Department and taken to the Mykolaiv Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region. There he declared his desire to return to military service.

According to Part 5 of Article 401 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, a serviceman who committed an offense during martial law for the first time may be released from criminal liability if he voluntarily applied for return to service and received the consent of his commander.

Since the military man filed a corresponding petition and received a written consent from his command, the court decided to close the criminal proceedings. At the same time, the previously imposed preventive measure in the form of bail in the amount of UAH 50,560 was canceled.

The court ordered the serviceman to report to the military unit to continue his service. The command of the unit, in turn, must officially notify the court and the prosecutor's office of the soldier's reinstatement.

On the contrary, a court in Mykolaiv region decided to extend the arrest of another soldier who had left the service without permission. In March 2025, he was detained by border guards in a mountainous area near Ivano-Frankivsk. The man was then taken to the police, where a detention report was drawn up. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

Meanwhile, in Mykolaiv, former commander and former official Eduard Shevchenko is being tried for treason. Investigators claim that he collaborated with Russian special services, passed them information about the effects of shelling and tried to recruit the mayor of Ochakiv.

In late January, Mykolaiv also heard the case of a junior sergeant suspected of extortion for assistance in evading mobilization. The court seized his property, including cash, documents, a phone and a car.

Анна Бальчінос