Ukraine is grappling with a surge in desertions as war fatigue sets in, further complicating the country’s defensive efforts on the front lines.
The Financial Times reported on Sunday that Ukrainian prosecutors have charged approximately 60,000 soldiers with desertion between January and October this year. This figure nearly doubles the number of desertions recorded in the two years from 2022 to 2023. Despite the threat of up to 12 years imprisonment for desertion under Ukrainian law, the trend continues to escalate.
A significant incident occurred in late October when hundreds of infantry soldiers from the 123rd Brigade, stationed in the eastern city of Bakhmut, deserted en masse. Some returned to Mykolaiv, staging public protests over inadequate weapons and training. An officer from the 123rd Brigade reported arriving at the front equipped only with rifles. Despite promises from command of 150 tanks, they received only 20, and there were no fortifications whatsoever.
While Ukraine officially reports a total force of 1 million, active personnel are estimated at only 350,000. Military officials indicate that most deserters are front-line combat troops, including infantry and assault units.
Local authorities report that some deserters from the 123rd Brigade have returned to duty, while others remain unaccounted for. A handful face legal proceedings.
Military analysts suggest that personnel shortages prevent the timely rotation of exhausted soldiers, leading to combat fatigue among seasoned fighters. They note that since summer, Russia’s intensified offensive, bolstered by North Korean support, has pushed Ukrainian forces back on the eastern front.
In response, the Ukrainian parliament passed legislation on November 21 granting amnesty to first-time deserters who voluntarily return to their units—the Ukrainian military plans to bolster its ranks by conscripting an additional 160,000 personnel over the next quarter.
Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office on January 20.
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