Ukrainian lawmakers introduce additional leave benefits tied to combat deployment duration
A group of Ukrainian lawmakers has introduced a new bill that would grant additional annual leave to service members based on the number of years they have served in active combat zones.
Bill No. 13303, registered in the Verkhovna Rada on May 20, proposes a structured leave system to compensate for prolonged combat service during martial law.
According to the bill’s sponsors, despite more than three years of full-scale war, there is still no clear legislation on the duration of service or the right to demobilization after a defined term. This lack of clarity, they argue, negatively affects the morale and psychological health of troops. As an interim solution, they are proposing more generous leave policies.
Under the proposal, military personnel would be eligible for extra paid annual leave for service in areas where combat operations are ongoing. This leave could be taken together with regular vacation or separately:
- 10 days after 1 year of combat duty
- 20 days after 2 years
- 30 days after 3 years
- 40 days after 4 years
The lawmakers believe this could both boost morale and motivate service members to continue serving under challenging conditions.
The bill is co-sponsored by members of various parliamentary factions and groups, including Yuliya Yatsyk (non-affiliated), Heorhiy Mazurashu (Servant of the People), Oleksiy Honcharenko (European Solidarity), Maria Mezentseva-Fedorenko (Servant of the People), Anatoliy Burmich (ex-Opposition Platform), Maryana Bezuhla (non-affiliated), Sofiya Fedyna (European Solidarity), Mykhailo Bondar (European Solidarity), and Andriy Klochko (Servant of the People).
