desertion

Ukraine probes almost 300,000 cases of desertion and leaving duty

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have opened nearly 290,000 criminal cases related to unauthorized absence from military duty and desertion since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Prosecutor General’s Office told the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet on Oct. 14.

14 October 2025, 01:21 PM

Russian soldiers sabotage deployments and spike desertions on Kherson front – partisans

Russian soldiers are destroying their own equipment on the Kherson axis, the number of deserters is growing, Atesh partisan movement reported on Aug. 22.

22 August 2025, 01:09 PM

Leaked documents show catastrophic losses and desertion in Russia’s 41st Army

41st Combined Arms Army, part of the Central Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, is suffering catastrophic losses in its war against Ukraine — with thousands killed or missing, Ukrainian I Want to Live project wrote on July 17.

17 July 2025, 01:35 PM

Ukraine’s runaway ex-president gets another 15 years in absentia

Fugitive former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has been sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for incitement to desertion and illegal transportation of people across the border, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on Telegram on April 28.

28 April 2025, 11:35 AM

Ukraine opened nearly 91,000 cases of unauthorized absence and desertion in 2024

The number of Ukrainian soldiers who left their units without permission or deserted in 2024 is strikingly close to the country’s overall mobilization pace, according to new official data obtained by NV.

4 April 2025, 03:18 PM

Russian convict troops flee front near Pokrovsk, abandon assault – Coordination HQ

A group of Russian occupiers from the 1437th Motorized Rifle Regiment of Russia’s armed forces has fled the front line near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.

2 February 2025, 03:09 PM

Odious 155th brigade commander arrested

Dmytro Ryumshin, the former commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade ‘Anne of Kyiv,’ has been detained with a UAH90 million ($2.14 million) bail, public broadcaster Suspilne reported on Jan. 22.

22 January 2025, 10:33 PM

Thousands of Ukrainian deserters return to military service, SBI says

More than 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers have returned to military service after deserting their units without permission, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) reported on Telegram on Jan. 10.

10 January 2025, 12:41 PM

French official confirms several dozen Ukrainian soldiers desert during training in France

Several dozen Ukrainian soldiers deserted during their training in France, although the phenomenon has not become widespread, a French army representative told AFP, France24 reported on Jan. 6.

7 January 2025, 01:24 PM

Several dozen Ukrainian soldiers deserted during training in France

Although far from a systemic phenomenon, several dozen Ukrainian soldiers deserted during training in France, a French army official told AFP, as reported by France24 on Jan. 6.

7 January 2025, 02:16 AM

3,000 Ukrainian soldiers return to duty after AWOL in past 72 hours

In the past 72 hours, approximately 3,000 service members have returned to duty after going AWOL or deserting, Oleksandr Hrynchuk, head of Ukraine’s Military Police, announced on Dec. 3.

3 December 2024, 09:38 PM

Over 6,000 Ukrainian deserters voluntarily rejoin military service

In the past month, more than 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers who had been absent without leave or deserted have returned to duty, resuming their military service, a source in Ukraine’s General Staff told NV on Nov. 29.

30 November 2024, 02:03 AM

Zelenskyy signs law easing punishment for desertion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law allowing automatic re-enlistment for military personnel who have voluntarily returned after first instance of desertion or going AWOL.

29 November 2024, 01:18 AM

Occupiers abandon positions en masse in Kherson Oblast – Partisans

Russian occupying forces are deserting and leaving their positions in Kherson Oblast.

28 November 2024, 02:25 PM

Mass desertion hits Russian army

More than a thousand Russian soldiers of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division have deserted from the war against Ukraine, the independent Russian news outlet Vazhnye Istorii reported on Nov. 19.

19 November 2024, 10:25 AM

A dozen Russian soldiers flee from barracks near Novosibirsk — report

A contingent of Russian troops at a military base in Novosibirsk Oblast have fled from their barracks, according to a report by independent Russian outlet Agentstvo on Nov. 13.

14 November 2024, 02:08 AM

Increased frequency of desertions in Ukrainian military, says top judge

There is a growing trend in the Ukrainian military of soldiers going AWOL (away without official leave) and deserting their units, Stanislav Kravchenko, head of Ukraine’s Supreme Court, said on Oct. 29.

30 October 2024, 01:34 AM

North Korean soldiers reportedly set to join Russian assaults against Ukraine in Kursk

Eighteen North Korean soldiers attempted to escape from Russian positions in Kursk Oblast but were detained - they may now be used in assaults against the Ukrainian Armed Forces, NV sources within the special services reported.

21 October 2024, 12:05 PM

Ukrainian soldier who announced AWOL on social media faces arrest for desertion

Prosecutors will seek custody without bail for Ukrainian soldier Serhiy Hnezdilov, accused of desertion, informed sources told NV on Oct. 10.

10 October 2024, 06:25 PM

Defense Ministry clarifies law on returning to military service after first desertion

Ukraine's Defense Ministry issued an explanation regarding draft bill No. 11322, supported in the first reading, which ensures possibility for soldiers, who voluntarily left the unit for the first time or committed desertion, to return to the service.

18 July 2024, 12:46 PM

desertion

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