Ukraine faces record military desertions amid forced mobilization
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Ukraine’s military desertion cases have surged in 2025, reflecting troop fatigue, forced mobilization, and inconsistent punishment.
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In this photo provided by Ukraine's 127th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence press service, a soldier readies to fire against Russian drone attacks near Kharkov, Ukraine, Saturday, May 24, 2025 (Ukraine's 127th Separate Brigade via AP)
Ukraine’s military is witnessing a sharp and unprecedented rise in desertion cases, with 25,508 incidents recorded in the first five months of 2025 alone, according to data from Ukraine’s Unified State Register of Court Decisions.
If the current trend continues, the number of desertions could reach an estimated 61,000 by the end of the year.
In April 2025 alone, 6,245 soldiers deserted, marking a steep increase from 4,992 in January.
By comparison, 2024 saw 35,750 recorded desertions, nearly triple the 12,563 cases reported in 2023.
Read more: Ukraine offers Gen Z money to fight amid manpower shortage: WSJ
Inconsistent penalties, legal loopholes undermine discipline
The rise in Ukraine's military desertions highlights an erosion of military discipline, compounded by legal inconsistencies.
The Pravda news website noted that while some soldiers face up to five years in prison, others return to active duty through legal loopholes or lenient judicial interpretations.
Analysts point to the pressures of forced mobilization and prolonged conflict as major contributors to the rise in desertion cases.
Ukrainian authorities have reportedly opted to turn a blind eye to discipline to avoid further reducing their fighting force, a trade-off that comes at the expense of unit cohesion and morale.
What the surge in Ukraine's military desertions reveals
The sharp uptick in desertions reflects Ukraine’s mounting challenge to sustain its military strength amid ongoing mobilization and battlefield fatigue.
As the war grinds on, Kiev faces a difficult balancing act between enforcing discipline and maintaining adequate troop numbers, a dilemma that could have long-term consequences for both military effectiveness and public trust.
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3,000+ Ukrainian soldiers eliminated over past week
In a related context, the Russian Defense Minister said Russia's Tsentr (Center) group of forces has eliminated more than 3,060 Ukrainian soldiers over the past week.
"The enemy's losses amounted to over 3,060 servicepeople, a tank, 39 armored fighting vehicles, including an M113 armored personnel carrier and a US-made MaxxPro armored vehicle manufactured. 57 vehicles and nine field artillery guns were destroyed," the Ministry said in a statement.
It highlighted that the Zapad (West) group of forces has eliminated over 1,495 Ukrainian servicepeople, while Russia's Yug (South) group of forces has eliminated over 1,615 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day.
In addition, the Ministry said the Sever (North) group of troops eliminated over 1,490 soldiers in the past day, while the Vostok (East) group has eliminated more than 1,265 Ukrainian soldiers.
Read more: Russian air defenses intercept 6 Ukrainian drones heading to Moscow
1,439 Ukrainian drones downed
Moreover, the Russian air defense took down 1,439 Ukrainian drones, including 907 outside the special operation zone, the statement confirmed.
Russian forces control Kondrashovka settlement in Kharkov
The Russian Defense Ministry also announced that Moscow's forces have taken control of the settlement of Kondrashovka (Kindrashivka) in the Kharkov region.
"As a result of decisive actions by units of the Zapad [West] group of troops, the settlements of Stroyevka [Stroivka] and Kondrashovka in the Kharkov region have been liberated," the Ministry stated.
Read more: Russian advance intensifies in Donbass as Sumy tensions rise
