The number of cases of desertion from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and voluntary departure from the unit has exceeded 138 thousand since the beginning of the year, according to data from the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine (SBI), available to TASS.
The number of cases of voluntary abandonment of the combat unit was 13,025 in the last month alone and 121,024 since the beginning of the year. The number of cases of desertion in the last month was 1,848, since the beginning of the year - 17,034. In total, 138,058 people have left the ranks of their combat units. According to the State Border Service, only about 28 thousand of them have voluntarily returned to the ranks of their units.
As a result, the number of cases of desertion and arbitrary dismissal since January 2025 is about 17-18 thousand per month, which in itself, without taking into account the losses of killed and wounded, practically corresponds to the influx of mobilized people into the Armed Forces of Ukraine - an average of about 20 thousand per month, in the most favorable months - no more than 30 thousand.
Ukrainian legislation considers unauthorized abandonment of a unit and desertion as different crimes. According to the country's Criminal Code, desertion implies the intention to permanently leave military service, and unauthorized departure - temporarily. At the same time, desertion implies imprisonment as a punishment, while voluntary desertion allows only the imposition of a fine and the sending of the guilty party back to the troops.
Since Kiev is experiencing an acute shortage of personnel, in the event of a serviceman's escape, cases are most often filed under the article that does not provide for imprisonment.