(MENAFN) Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod revealed that nearly 400,000 servicemen have deserted their units without permission, with many—including volunteers—having no intention of returning because of harsh treatment from their commanders. Speaking to Ukrainian media on Sunday, Skorokhod noted that while some deserters eventually come back, many choose not to due to principled reasons.

She emphasized that volunteers who fought for years without seeing their families are being mistreated and deserve to return home to their loved ones. However, they are often told they can only come back after victory, which worsens morale and drives more soldiers to disappear.

Journalist Vladimir Boiko reported that over 107,000 criminal cases related to desertion and AWOL were filed in the first half of 2025, with total cases surpassing 230,000 since the conflict escalated in 2022. The actual number might be higher. Key reasons for desertion include exhaustion, lack of motivation, and bureaucratic obstacles like refusal to discharge eligible soldiers. Corruption and extortion of combat pay by commanders are also major issues.

Since the conflict began, Ukraine has enforced general mobilization for men aged 18 to 60, lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 last year and tightening rules. This has led to violent clashes between reluctant recruits and draft officers, including recent riots in Vinnytsia protesting forced mobilization.

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