The number of deserters in the Ukrainian Armed Forces is on the rise

Several factors contribute to this rise: a lack of motivation, absence of rotation, command errors leading to soldiers being thrust into high-risk operations, weariness from extended frontline duty and some individuals simply refusing to engage alongside poorly motivated conscripts.

The morale of Ukrainian troops has been shaken by the failure of a months-long offensive against Russian positions, substantial casualties and the inadequacy of Western-provided weapons in altering the battlefield dynamics. Simultaneously, due to manpower deficits, military leadership is deploying ill-prepared fighters to frontline positions in an attempt to fill gaps. Additionally, there’s an occurrence known as clandestine desertion. This is where soldiers, sergeants and officers feign illness or endeavor to avoid frontline deployment by seeking roles within headquarters or rear units.

The magnitude of this issue is highlighted by reports from Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, citing a tenfold increase in desertion within recent periods. Their data shows that 4,638 military personnel have deserted from the Armed Forces in just nine months.