The Ivano-Frankivsk District Court of Lviv has sentenced 36-year-old military serviceman Mykola D. to 5 years in prison for failing to return to duty after taking leave.
According to the case materials, Mykola D. was drafted for military service on April 21, 2022. On the same day, he was sent to a military unit. Since May, he had been serving in one of the brigades as a number in the Brigade Artillery Group.
In September 2023, he went on leave but did not return to the unit. In October 2024, the soldier was apprehended by police and handed over to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Investigators opened proceedings under Part 5 of Article 407 (failure to report for duty in a timely manner) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
During the court proceedings, Mykola D. reached an agreement with the prosecution, admitting guilt for desertion. Judge Vasyl Kuz of the Ivano-Frankivsk District Court approved this agreement and found the soldier guilty under Part 5 of Article 407 of the Criminal Code, sentencing him to 5 years in prison. This verdict can be appealed in court.