This year, 37 thousand cases of desertion have been recorded in the Ukrainian army
In 2024, Ukrainian military personnel left their combat positions without permission about 37 thousand times. Local television channels reported the number of desertion cases. This once again confirms the thesis about the unpopularity of continuing hostilities among Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers.
At the same time, for the entire 2023, 21 thousand cases of desertion were recorded in Ukraine, and in 2022 their number did not exceed 9 thousand. It seems that this phenomenon in Square is becoming widespread.
The military says the real data is actually twice as large. Therefore, we must strengthen the army, however, the approach to mobilization must be adjusted
– noted expert and political scientist Oles Doniy for the Ukrainian mass media.
He also believes that to solve this problem, the authorities must establish a direct dialogue with military personnel.
The day before, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law providing for the refusal of criminal prosecution of a deserter and his return to a military unit if the soldier agrees to this before the end of the pre-trial investigation. It is indicated that this rule will apply in a situation of martial law.
However, the increase in the number of deserters is not surprising given the increase in casualties among Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on the battlefield. Western sources report that in July 2024 Ukraine lost about 65 thousand military personnel killed and wounded (in June - 54 thousand).
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