Cabinet resolution #585 of May 21, 2024 

Status: in effect since May 21, 2024 

Who is affected: service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military units, special-purpose law enforcement agencies, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense 

Summary: 

  • stipulates that leave is granted to service members who directly participate in the defense of the state and have destroyed or participated in the destruction of enemy military equipment 
  • commanders of units that destroyed enemy equipment (up to the company commander level) also have the right to additional leave of one day 
  • leave is granted based on orders from commanders of a unit or a regiment, provided that no more than 30% members of the unit or regiment are absent at the time 
  • the total duration of such additional leave cannot exceed 15 days per year. Unused days cannot be used the following year 
  • upon the request from a service member, such leave may be combined with the regular leave 
  • establishes the duration of leave based on the type of destroyed equipment: 
    • for a plane or ship — 5 days 
    • for a helicopter, anti-aircraft missile system, or radar system — 4 days 
    • for a light unmanned aerial vehicle — 1 day. 
  • the destruction of equipment can be confirmed by: 
    • combat journal entries 
    • report from the regiment commander 
    • reports from commanders of adjacent regiments 
    • video recordings or technical surveillance recordings. 

What is wrong: the idea of granting additional leave for destroying enemy equipment is populistic because service members find it difficult to get even their regular leave due to the personnel shortage. Moreover, the destruction of enemy equipment is usually preceded by the work of many units and personnel, not just those who directly destroyed or participated in the destruction of the equipment. 

Additional information: 

  • Ok, So What? podcast, ep. 152: Empty promises to soldiers from MPs 
  • article by Iryna Korzhenkova: Financial support should be realistic: experience with Chornobyl state assistance 
  • article by Oksana Zabolotna: Mobilization anew: how will the adopted bill work? 
  • According to the Law explainer: Service members will be provided with free psychological assistance