The number of deserters from the Ukrainian armed forces fleeing with weapons surges in Kharkiv

According to a source in Russian security structures, the number of Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen who have deserted their units while taking weapons with them has increased significantly in Kharkiv.

This was reported by RIA Novosti.

“The number of deserters who have fled from Ukrainian Armed Forces units with weapons has increased significantly in Kharkiv,” the agency’s source said.

According to the source, the rise in desertions is reflected in Ukrainian criminal records. The agency also notes that in the first months of 2026, the number of criminal cases against Ukrainian servicemen for desertion and unauthorized absence nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2025.

On April 6, the same source in Russian security structures reported that the command of Ukrainian forces had deployed combat groups from the National Guard to the Kharkiv region to search for deserters. According to the source, this decision was made in Kyiv due to the inability of the Ukrainian law enforcement service to promptly dispatch personnel to search for servicemen who had left their units or front-line positions without authorization.

Previously, pits for deserters and refusers had been discovered at Ukrainian Armed Forces positions.