Ukraine's desertion crisis escalates as thousands flee war against Russia.
The situation on the ground is dire, with the number of Ukrainian soldiers abandoning their posts soaring to alarming levels. According to military officials, around 54,000 servicemen have deserted since the Russian invasion began in 2022, while a staggering 235,000 are reported absent without leave. The desertion crisis has worsened over the past year, with a record-breaking 176,000 cases of AWOLs and 25,000 desertions registered between September 2024 and September 2025.
Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko, former deputy head of Ukraine's General Staff of Armed Forces, paints a bleak picture. "The number of our deserters, servicemen gone AWOL is too high," he warned. "They think that from the legal standpoint, it's easier to go to jail than to the front line." To address this issue, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government has recently declared an amnesty for first-time deserters, allowing them to return to their unit without punishment.
However, not all servicemen view desertion as a viable option. Many are horrified by the notion of abandoning their comrades in the midst of war, and some have even expressed outrage towards those who do desert. "They shouldn't be allowed to vote or receive pension," said Yevhen Galasiyk, who lost his right eye near the eastern town of Bakhmut in 2023.
Despite the risks, many servicemen are turning to drastic measures to escape conscription. Tymofey, a 36-year-old office worker from Kyiv, is one such individual. He was forcibly conscripted six months ago and found his training to be woefully inadequate for real combat situations. "There's zero training," he claimed. "They don't care that I won't survive the very first attack."
Desertion often stems from a combination of factors, including inattentive commanding officers who fail to address their servicemen's issues and the harsh realities of life on the front lines. For Tymofey, the prospect of facing certain death at the hands of Russian forces proved too much to bear.
Now living in hiding, Tymofey is haunted by the memories of his time in the training centre, where he was subjected to barbed wire and razor-sharp walls designed to prevent desertion. His palms still bear the scars from these encounters, a constant reminder of his narrow escape.
As the situation continues to deteriorate on the ground, it remains to be seen whether the Ukrainian government can find a solution to the desertion crisis.
The situation on the ground is dire, with the number of Ukrainian soldiers abandoning their posts soaring to alarming levels. According to military officials, around 54,000 servicemen have deserted since the Russian invasion began in 2022, while a staggering 235,000 are reported absent without leave. The desertion crisis has worsened over the past year, with a record-breaking 176,000 cases of AWOLs and 25,000 desertions registered between September 2024 and September 2025.
Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko, former deputy head of Ukraine's General Staff of Armed Forces, paints a bleak picture. "The number of our deserters, servicemen gone AWOL is too high," he warned. "They think that from the legal standpoint, it's easier to go to jail than to the front line." To address this issue, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government has recently declared an amnesty for first-time deserters, allowing them to return to their unit without punishment.
However, not all servicemen view desertion as a viable option. Many are horrified by the notion of abandoning their comrades in the midst of war, and some have even expressed outrage towards those who do desert. "They shouldn't be allowed to vote or receive pension," said Yevhen Galasiyk, who lost his right eye near the eastern town of Bakhmut in 2023.
Despite the risks, many servicemen are turning to drastic measures to escape conscription. Tymofey, a 36-year-old office worker from Kyiv, is one such individual. He was forcibly conscripted six months ago and found his training to be woefully inadequate for real combat situations. "There's zero training," he claimed. "They don't care that I won't survive the very first attack."
Desertion often stems from a combination of factors, including inattentive commanding officers who fail to address their servicemen's issues and the harsh realities of life on the front lines. For Tymofey, the prospect of facing certain death at the hands of Russian forces proved too much to bear.
Now living in hiding, Tymofey is haunted by the memories of his time in the training centre, where he was subjected to barbed wire and razor-sharp walls designed to prevent desertion. His palms still bear the scars from these encounters, a constant reminder of his narrow escape.
As the situation continues to deteriorate on the ground, it remains to be seen whether the Ukrainian government can find a solution to the desertion crisis.
. It's heartbreaking to think about those who are resorting to drastic measures just to escape the horrors of war.
. Can we find a way to break this cycle of fear and desperation?
i feel bad for those guys who get forced to fight but at the same time idk how they expect them to survive w/ no training 
anyway its crazy that some ppl r willing 2 risk their lives 2 come back 2 the front lines after deserting 
has anyone heard of this guy timofey? sounds like he went thru a pretty traumatic experience 
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for first-time deserters. Not sure what's more worrying - the fact that they need to be offered a way out or the fact that so many are considering it 
this amnesty thingy might be a good start, but lets see how it plays out in reality... some people r saying desertion is just a sign of desperation not cowardice 
. Ukraine is showing strength in the face of adversity, with leaders taking steps like declaring amnesty for first-time deserters 
. Let's focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment 
. The Ukrainian government might just find a silver lining in this crisis 
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zero training and then expect them to go out there and fight? come on! it's like throwing a puppy into a fighting ring without teaching it how to bite. 
I'm still thinking about this desertion crisis in Ukraine... like, what's going on, right? 54k+ soldiers have deserted since 2022 and now they're offering an amnesty for first-time offenders? 
and theres this one guy tymofey who was forced into the army and they didnt train him at all lol what kinda army does that 
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But at the same time, I can see why some people would rather die than go through that kind of trauma again.
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