Cases of AWOL only increased after the decriminalization of AWOL, – military psychologist Kozinchuk

Cases of AWOL only increased after the decriminalization of AWOL, – military psychologist Kozinchuk

Military psychologist Andriy Kozinchuk stated that the number of cases of unauthorized absence (UA) has significantly increased following the decriminalization of this violation. According to him, this phenomenon indicates the need for a deeper study of the psychological state of the military personnel and improvement of work with them on the ground.

«The decriminalization was aimed at reducing pressure on the military, but unfortunately, it led to the opposite effect. Some soldiers have lost their sense of responsibility, and we see how this affects discipline and combat readiness», – Kozinchuk noted.

Moreover, the psychologist emphasized that proper work by commanders with their personnel plays an important role. «Problems often arise due to insufficient support for the military, lack of proper service conditions, or a misunderstanding of their needs by the leadership», – he added.

Separately, Andriy Kozinchuk commented on the presence of members of parliament on the front lines. In his opinion, such initiatives are not beneficial: «Members of parliament have no place on the front line. They lack the necessary military training, and their presence only adds an extra burden on commanders. Their task is to ensure the necessary laws and resources for the army, not to play the role of a soldier».

The specialist stressed that in order to strengthen discipline and reduce cases of UA, comprehensive work is needed that includes not only punishment but also effective psychological support and clear service conditions.