Media: Over 8 months, 142 thousand cases of desertion recorded in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Media: Over 8 months, 142 thousand cases of desertion recorded in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Over eight months, 142,000 individuals deserted from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This was reported by journalist Volodymyr Boyko, citing statistics on open cases under the relevant article. According to him, the real number could be even higher, as these are only officially registered cases, while often unauthorized absences are not reported to investigative authorities and are not accounted for in the statistics.

According to Boyko’s data, the highest number of desertions from the Armed Forces occurred in May, with 19,956 individuals. During the summer months, the figure remains at over 17,000 people.

"Considering that the monthly losses of the Ukrainian army (killed, missing in action, and wounded) amount to no less than 10,000 people, and between 20,000 and 30,000 conscripts are mobilized, the Armed Forces are experiencing a state of disintegration," Boyko writes.

"It turns out that no one at the front is willing to die so that Captain Vakarchuk of the Armed Forces can travel abroad for concerts, Sergeant Zhadan of the National Guard can perform at corporate events, Sergeant Shabunin of the Armed Forces can be seconded to the NACP and Kyiv bars, Junior Lieutenant Kipiani of the National Guard can bear the burdens of service at the Press Museum, conscript Sternenko can buy elite real estate, and conscript Leshchenko can entertain as a DJ in nightclubs. And even less so are there those willing to lay down their lives for a corrupt feudal regime that has turned the defence of the Motherland into a punishment," writes Boyko, who himself served in the Armed Forces and was recently demobilized upon reaching the age of 60.