Surge in Ukrainian military desertions highlights war fatigue
Ukrainians who enlisted in the military during the early days of the Russian invasion in 2022 are exhausted. Desertion is becoming an increasingly attractive option, writes "The Times".
8:02 AM EDT, October 12, 2024
According to data published by the Ukrainian Attorney General, from January to September this year, 51,000 criminal proceedings related to desertion and unauthorized departure from military units were initiated.
Ukrainians are fleeing the battlefield en masse
"This is already twice as much as in 2023, when 24,000 cases were recorded, and significantly more compared to 2022, when only 9,000 such proceedings were initiated," notes "The Times".
The newspaper quotes, among others, a 24-year-old Ukrainian soldier who confirms that in recent months many of his colleagues have decided to flee the battlefield, using the same method of not returning from medical leave.
While giving an interview, the soldier was in the Carpathians at the time on "a much-needed vacation." Immediately afterward, officers entered the property where he was staying. The man was detained on charges of desertion. He faces up to 12 years in prison.
The Kremlin is facing similar problems. Ukrainian military intelligence reported earlier this year that 18,000 soldiers in Russia's southern military district had abandoned their posts, recalls "The Times".
