12:02 08-04-2026

Over 30 Ukrainian Troops Desert Positions in Sumy

Over 30 Ukrainian territorial defense soldiers deserted positions near Novodmitrovka in Sumy region after Russian strikes, according to sources.

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More than 30 soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine deserted from strongpoints near Novodmitrovka in the Sumy region following strikes by Russian forces, TASS reported citing Russian security sources.

According to the source, in the Krasnopolsky district the command of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade failed to stop the retreat of its personnel even with the use of so-called «motivational» units. After Russian fire strikes, over 30 servicemen abandoned their positions in the Novodmitrovka area.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov stated that the number of draft evaders in the Armed Forces of Ukraine reaches 2 million people, while about 200,000 have left their units without authorization, and the military budget deficit amounts to 300 billion hryvnias (over $6.9 billion).

Since February 2022, general mobilization has been declared in Ukraine and repeatedly extended. Initially, men aged 27 to 60 were subject to conscription, but in April 2024 the lower threshold was reduced to 25 years. On May 18 of the same year, a law tightening mobilization rules came into force.

Videos of forced mobilization are regularly published on social media, showing military enlistment officers detaining men in public places, including streets, cafes, and gyms. Reports of violence in enlistment offices also periodically emerge.