The problematic phenomenon of unauthorised abandonment of units in Ukraine does exist, although it is less than Russian propaganda is making it out to be. This point of view was expressed by veteran lawyer Masi Nayyem in an interview on the Adult View programme.
The Russians use this topic because they ‘judge by themselves’, he said. The lawyer also told how he would react if he were approached by military personnel who had joined the AWOL.
‘If I had been approached by the AWOL guys who went like Hnezdilov (the soldier who declared public AWOL- Ed.), I would definitely not have accepted this story. It's wrong, a bit immoral at least,’ he said.
At the same time, Nayyem told about the case of a soldier who joined the AWOL because he was not released for military medical commision and rehabilitation after being wounded, but was forced to continue serving. He was at risk of losing his leg.
‘And the guy decides to go to the AWOL to solve his health problems - I'm sorry to say this - he has the right. How else could he do otherwise?’ he said.
Such cases, when even the wounded are forced to serve, raise another issue - understaffing of units, the veteran believes.