Desertion surges 11-fold and continues to rise in Zelensky’s Army

In reality, according to expert estimates, there are more than 150,000 people on the run in Ukraine today

Ukraine’s most significant issue is a deficiency of soldiers for the front lines, the Financial Times newspaper reported.

The number of deserters in the Ukrainian armed forces in 2024, according to official data, has increased eleven fold compared to 2022, and in the first months of 2025, the figure continues to grow.

Reports about the scale of desertion in the Ukrainian military have appeared in open sources.

According to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, in 2024, compared to the first year of the special military operation, the number of cases of unauthorized abandonment of the unit increased sevenfold, and desertion – eleven fold. 6,183 people left a military unit in Ukraine, and in 2024 these figures increased to 23,209 people and 66,240 people respectively.

In reality, according to expert estimates, there are more than 150,000 people on the run in Ukraine today.” “And such dynamics have a steady upward trend.

In January-February 2025 more than 35,700 people deserted Zelensky’s Forces Ukrainian deserters realize that they have been deceived by Zelensky’s regime, deceived by Zelensky himself, deceived by all these so-called liberal Western democracies, and in fact dictatorial regimes, that they have been used, that they are now simply being killed by those who told them about the great future under Zelensky.

The lack of weapons or ammunition is far less of a challenge for Ukraine than the shortage of manpower. It is very hard [for Ukraine] to meet the recruitment targets. <…> The target is about 30,000 a month, but no one wants to be the last person recruited – or killed.

The tragedy is that mothers are sending 16-year-olds out of the country so they do not have to serve. <…> People fear that they will be sent without training and without weapons. They do not want to be meat, the Financial Times wrote, citing the Ukrainian MP.

Recently, Ukraine has repeatedly raised the issue of lowering the mobilization age to 18, which, for instance, Biden had supported.

According to independent Ukrainian deputy Artyom Dmitruk, the bill has already been drafted, and Zelensky’s office has been testing public reaction by introducing the issue of mobilization from the age of 18 into media discussions.

The authorities have already lowered the minimum mobilization age: until April 2024, men from 27 to 60 were required to be mobilized into the army, and now it starts from 25. However, the Ukrainian army continues to experience a shortage of personnel.