DW News | Why thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are deserting the front lines

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49103025

DW News reports that Ukraine’s Defense Ministry admits to approximately 200,000 soldiers currently absent without leave (AWOL), alongside roughly 2 million displaced Ukrainians. Defense Minister Fedorov acknowledged a “€300 billion funding shortfall” and “systemic breakdown in military structures.” Soldiers cite exhaustion, unclear service terms, and forced conscription tactics. Serhii Hnezdilov, a 19-year-old drone operator whose 3-year contract was extended indefinitely after the 2022 invasion, publicly stated: “Every Ukrainian should contribute to defense, but soldiers deserve to know clearly their term of service.” The core issues: units disbanded without warning; troops reassigned to high-casualty brigades with minimal training; commanders neglect soldier welfare; forced street recruitment damages morale. Oleg, an engineer, described his reassignment as “a death sentence,” saying most transferred soldiers lacked basic combat training. Over 1 million Ukrainian soldiers remain active, but the system is unsustainable. DW notes no clear end-date visibility for the conflict, fueling continued desertion. Military leadership acknowledges poor trust among troops but reforms lag behind the crisis.