Ukraine's longest-serving troops are set to be eligible for release from the war by late autumn, Fedorov said.
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Ukrainian soldiers fighting since early 2022 could begin returning to civilian life by this year, even as the war continues, said Ukraine's defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.Kyiv hopes to start discharging its longest-serving troops by late autumn of 2026, Fedorov told local TV news outlet TSN on Wednesday."There will be two criteria: how many days you've been in military service, and how many combat days you've had. If you've served since 2014, this will count," Fedorov said.It's a reprieve that much of the country had expected would come only if a ceasefire were reached.Ukraine mobilized hundreds of thousands of military-aged men after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Some who joined the war in its opening months have been fighting continuously for over four years, with limited time to visit home.The country's typical discharge rules were suspended under martial law, essentially obligating these fighters to serve indefinitely, until the war ends, or a full demobilization is declared.The lack of a discharge window has become a major sticking point for Ukraine's weary troops and a political lightning rod.
