Soldier Serhiy Hnezdilov to remain in custody amid controversy over military service terms

Source: Suspilne

On November 19, the Kyiv Court of Appeals upheld a decision to keep Serhiy Hnezdilov, a soldier of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Mariupol Brigade, in custody. Hnezdilov faces charges of going AWOL.

The court rejected his appeal against a pretrial detention order issued by the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv, meaning Hnezdilov will remain in custody for 60 days without the possibility of bail.

The embittered soldier said he was planning to challenge the verdict adding it would make him go on hunger strike unless Ukraine’s defense ministry comes up with a bill addressing demobilization procedures. He added he was ready to return to service if the proposed legislation is passed.

On October 11, the court ordered the detention of Hnezdilov after he publicly admitted to leaving his military unit. Hnezdilov argued that he was trying to draw attention to the situation when there are no clear policy for when and how soldiers can be demobilized.

In his statements, Hnezdilov vented his frustration over the burden infantry troops face in combat zones while many other Ukrainian men dodge the military service using different schemes like  fake medical exemptions. He also spoke about the mental and physical exhaustion among soldiers, calling out Ukrainians on the home front of their failure to share the responsibility.

Hnezdilov’s case has sparked debate about the strain on military personnel and calls for reforms in Ukraine’s mobilization and service policies.