Two Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades have announced their readiness to welcome military personnel who have left for the Special Operations Forces.

The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh have called on servicemen who have deserted their units to return to service. The brigades posted announcements on Monday, November 4, stating that they are ready to support those who made mistakes for various reasons.

“Returning from the SDC is possible! The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade understands that there are various reasons for such actions: some are tired and miss their families, while others did not find their place in their brigade based on their specialty. We are ready to offer you decent conditions with a modern approach,” – the 47th Brigade's message states.

Recruiters encourage individuals to contact the brigade at the phone number 050 247 47 47. The 53rd Brigade also invites those wishing to return from the SDC to join their ranks.

“It is important to remember that one misstep does not define us completely. We support those who want to correct past mistakes. For every serviceman who previously deserted their unit, the doors for return are now open. We have one country, one goal, and we can only win together. It is crucial that everyone who is ready to defend our land can join the common cause, regardless of past decisions,” – the 53rd Brigade writes.

For details on returning to service, the 53rd Brigade offers assistance at the phone number 0 (93) 247 26 79.

Additionally, it should be noted that desertion from a military unit is a criminal offense (Article 407 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The penalty under this article can be up to ten years in prison. However, servicemen who deserted for the first time have the opportunity to return to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The support center for veterans and their families has suggested that since 2022, over 100,000 people have deserted their units. At the same time, the Office of the Prosecutor General, in response to a request from UP, reported that since the beginning of 2024, 35,000 cases have been registered under the article on desertion. This is twice as many as in the entire year of 2023.