By KYIV. Dec 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny supported changes to the legislation on strengthening responsibility of military personnel and asks President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to sign the relevant bill approved by the Verkhovna Rada.
"I have to raise a rather complicated topic – increased responsibility for unauthorized abandonment of a military unit or place of service, desertion, unauthorized abandonment of the battlefield or refusal to use weapons, disobedience and non-compliance with military orders. I support the corresponding changes to the legislation adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and I ask the president to sign the law. My opinion clearly reflects the position of the commanders of groups and military units, who demanded a systematic solution to this set of issues," Zaluzhny wrote on Telegram on Monday.
He noted that the army rests on discipline, and if the gaps in the legislation do not ensure its observance, it is unfair if refusers can get away with a fine or punishment with a probation. "Moreover, and this is the key, the exposed sections of the front need to be covered with other military personnel, which leads to an increase in the loss of personnel, territories and civilians on them. Often lost positions have to be restored by assault at a very high price. It shouldn’t be like this," the commander-in-chiefsaid.
According to him, this problem can be solved in a softer way, but in peacetime, and "in war conditions, quick effective solutions are needed."
"Is there a threat of increased impunity for commanders? No, commanders also bear full legal responsibility for their actions or inaction. And I fully trust my subordinates," Zaluzny stressed.
At the same time, he acknowledged the existence of problems that lead to the unauthorized abandonment of positions and stated that he was working on their elimination, noting that successful operations to liberate Ukrainian territories were evidence of this.
"Is it normal that we discuss such sensitive topics in public? Yes, we are in a democratic state. But exactly as long as it does not harm us to win the war. Therefore, I urge everyone to put an end to this discussion. And together bring the victory closer," Zaluzhny summed up.
The Verkhovna Rada at a meeting on December 13, with 270 votes, supported bill No. 8271 on strengthening responsibility for war crimes, as well as for its immediate signing and sending to the President of Ukraine. On the same day, it was signed by Speaker of the Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk and sent for signature to the head of state.
The bill, in particular, excludes the possibility of releasing military personnel from punishment or imposing a milder punishment on them than provided for by the current Criminal Code of Ukraine (disobedience; failure to comply with an order; threat or violence against a superior; unauthorized abandonment of a place of service; desertion, unauthorized abandonment of a battlefield or refusal to use weapons).
On December 15, petition No. 22/173526-ep was published on the website of the head of state calling for a veto on the law, which gained 28,000 signatures in the first day, which is more than the required number for consideration by the president.
