For more than half a year, the draft law No. 8061 has been pending the consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It is aimed at entitling the military servants who became POW to dismissal from military service and deferral upon call to military service on mobilizing.
The head committee recommended to adopt the document. The draft law produced positive outcomes and was supported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This draft law is urgent for the military men and women who were released from captivity. However, the people’s deputies have been postponing its consideration in the session hall since November.
During this period, about 20 POWs exchanges took place. The society once again had to witness the physical and mental deterioration of Ukrainian military men and women after being held captive. Are they ready to become combatants again? It is a matter of personal choice, yet according to the law, one cannot make such a decision (even if a person is restrictedly fit for military service).
Why is it important to adopt draft law No. 8061?
According to the current legislation, military servants who became POW and were released could not be dismissed. After returning home, they undergo medical examination, have a short-term rehabilitation period, and then they return to their units.
Often when the military servants return to the army, it undermines their mental and physical health. Under such circumstances, they become less efficient on the battlefield which can be detrimental for their fellows. In practice, all the former POWs do demand a high-quality psychological rehabilitation, however, the state cannot allocate enough qualified staff and cannot attract long-term financial resources for this purpose.
As the war goes on, the number of POWs and released POWs increases, hence, the rehabilitation will become even more in demand. In early December, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi informed that over 1,300 Ukrainian military servants returned home from captivity. Their health condition seems to be unsatisfactory. For instance, due to malnutrition, cold, insufficient sleep, and other improper handling conditions women who were POWs develop gynecological and hormonal diseases which demand a long-term treatment. Despite reports on thorough examination and rehabilitation of former POWs, the vast majority of them demand long-term rehabilitation programs and should be entitled to dismissal from military service. Article 117 of the Geneva Conventions also prescribes for keeping the repatriated persons from military service. Currently, only those military men and women who are considered unfit for service may be dismissed. However, it is a complicated and lengthy process.
In addition, the current legislation of Ukraine does not take into account the moral and mental state of the released captives, which impacts their work duties.
A petition to support the draft law has already been registered and ready for signing.
In view of the above, we appeal to urgently:
- Consider the draft law No. 8061 and put it to voting;
- Support the project and allow the former POWs to voluntarily dismiss from military service.