The weary warriors: Ukrainian military plagued by MASS DESERTIONS as war's third year approaches

By ramontomeydw // 2025-02-06

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The Ukrainian military is facing a growing crisis of mass desertions as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year.
Exact numbers are undisclosed but are believed to be significant, with some estimates suggesting over 100,000 soldiers have deserted since February 2022. Soldiers cite harsh realities of war, perceived incompetent leadership, and poor management as key factors for their desertions.
Viktor, a soldier who initially was ready to fight for his country, left his post due to poor treatment and injuries. His experience mirrors that of other soldiers, who often cite similar reasons for their decision to desert.
Even trained units, such as the "Anne of Kyiv" brigade, have faced significant desertion rates, with 1,700 soldiers leaving the brigade without entering combat.
To address the issue of desertions and ultimately bring an end to the conflict, peace talks and a resolution that provides hope and stability for soldiers and their families appear to be the best option on the table.

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) is grappling with a growing crisis – mass desertions. The exact numbers are shrouded in secrecy, but the scale of the problem is undeniable. According to The Guardian, the number of deserters is large, and the issue is exacerbating an already dire situation on the front lines. The stories of individual soldiers and the struggles of units like the "Anne of Kyiv" brigade highlight the deep-rooted issues within the Ukrainian military and the urgent need for a different approach to end the conflict. AFU soldier Viktor embodies the changing sentiment among the ranks. At the start of the Russian invasion, he was ready to give his life for his country. However, the harsh realities of war combined with what he perceives as incompetent leadership have led him to desert. "I realized that I'm nobody. Just a number," Viktor said, recalling how he was given only a pain-killing injection and ordered back into battle after being wounded. He left his post in May for treatment and never returned. Viktor's story is not unique; another soldier who fought in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions described a similar breaking point. After a quarrel with his new commander and a subsequent injury, the unnamed second soldier decided to disappear. "I reached a boiling point, and I decided to go where no one would find me," the second soldier said. When asked if he was happy, his response was grim: "I'm alive. The longer the war lasts, the more people like me there will be." (Related: Ukrainian front line on the brink of collapse as soldiers' morale plummets.) AFU Staff Sgt. Andriy Hrebenyuk also acknowledged the frequent desertions in his infantry battalion. While he noted that they have enough artillery and drones for the fight against Russian forces, the infantry shortage remains a significant challenge. "Some come back, some don't. It's not so much about injuries as it is about morale," Hrebenyuk explained. "They need a psychological reset. They go to their families and reappear a few months later."

Ukraine's military desertions reach alarming heights

The desertion problem is not limited to individual soldiers, however. Units like the 155th Mechanized Brigade, known as the "Anne of Kyiv," have also faced significant issues. This brigade, partly trained by France, was meant to be a symbol of international support and Ukrainian resolve. However, the unit has been beset by poor management and desertions. According to Yuriy Butusov, editor-in-chief of Censor.NET, 1,700 soldiers fled the brigade without going into combat, and 50 escaped while training in France. To make things worse, the brigade's commander was replaced shortly after the unit returned home from France – and days before it went into combat. Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal probe into the alleged abuse of power and desertion within the brigade, according to the Kyiv Post. Meanwhile, numbers from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine showed that more than 100,000 soldiers have deserted since February 2022. The number of desertions last year reached twice the figures for 2022 and 2023 combined, with some estimates suggesting a high of 200,000. "We can't solve it with a criminal penalty," Ukraine's Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel Olga Reshetylova explained when asked for a solution to the desertion problem. "If the choice is between death and prison, of course at that point you choose the latter." "It's natural when a major war has been going on for three years. People are exhausted," she continued. "They want to see their families. Their children are growing up without them. Relationships are falling apart. Wives and husbands can’t wait forever. They feel lonely." Ultimately, the best way to end the military desertions and the war at large is through peace talks. It is time for all parties to come to the negotiating table and work towards a resolution that brings hope and stability to the region, and a much-needed respite for weary soldiers. Visit UkraineWitness.com for more similar stories. Watch retired Col. Douglas Macgregor disclosing the mass desertions among the Ukrainian military in this clip. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

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Ukraine's military desertions reach alarming heights

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