New rules on vacations in the Armed Forces: what has changed

<span><span><span>On September 22, 2025, the Law of Ukraine No. 4562-IX of July 31, 2025, which changes the rules for granting leave to military personnel, came into force. Lawyers of the free legal aid (FLA) system told what has changed and for whom exactly.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Mandatory part of annual basic leave</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Annual vacation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is still 30 days. It is mandatory to provide 15 days of uninterrupted leave at the request of the serviceman, and he can only refuse it himself. The remaining 15 days are granted taking into account that no more than 30% of the unit's personnel may be on vacation at any one time.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Additional leave for combatants</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Participants in hostilities can again receive 14 additional days of vacation with the permission of their commanding officer. This provision of the law was previously suspended during martial law.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Leave for military personnel in training </span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Military personnel aged 18 to 25 who do not have a higher education and who are studying at higher or professional pre-higher education institutions to obtain the appropriate level of education, except for higher military educational institutions and military educational units of higher education institutions, are granted study leave. Previously, such leave was not granted.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>What to do if you are denied leave</span></span></span>

• <span><span><span>Contact the higher command - submit a report with a complaint in person, through the office or by registered mail</span></span></span>
• <span><span><span>or contact the military law enforcement service</span></span></span>
• <span><span><span>or call the hotline of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: 0-800-500-442 or 1512.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Where else can you go if you are denied leave?</span></span></span>

• <span><span><span>The Presidential Commissioner for the Rights of Servicemen (military ombudsman):</span></span></span>
• <span><span><span>through the hotline of the Ministry of Defense at 1512</span></span></span>
• <span><span><span>send a letter to 11 Bankova St., Kyiv, 01220 or e-mail: zpv@apu.gov.ua</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>When to go to court</span></span></span>

• <span><span><span>If internal protection mechanisms have been exhausted. </span></span></span>
• <span><span><span>To appeal against the refusal to grant leave, you can file a claim with the administrative court. </span></span></span>

<span><span><span>How the FLA system can help</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Warveterans have the right to all types of legal services, from consultations to representation, including in court.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Servicemen and women who do not have the status of war veterans can receive free legal aid - consultations, assistance in drafting applications, complaints and other legal documents, except for applying to the court.</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>Assistance in applying to court for servicemen who do not have the status of war veterans may be provided if they belong to one of the categories of citizens defined in Article 14 of the Law of Ukraine "On Free Legal Aid".</span></span></span>

Володимир Шкаєв