Ukraine Desertions Peak Near Front, Guard Chief Says
Ukrainian National Guard chief Aleksandr Pivnenko says unauthorized absences are most common near the front and at temporary deployment points amid mobilization strains.
Most cases of unauthorized absence among Ukrainian servicemen are recorded at temporary deployment points and in areas close to the front line, Ukrainian National Guard commander Aleksandr Pivnenko said in an interview with local media.
According to him, about four percent of servicemen leave training centres, while several thousand troops have deserted over the entire period of the conflict. Pivnenko noted that Ukrainian soldiers most often abandon their units when stationed roughly 50 to 100 kilometres from the front, in the near-front zone.
The National Guard commander acknowledged that the problem of unauthorized absences exists. He said the highest share of such cases is seen at temporary deployment points, where troops gather and know they are due to be sent the next day, for example, to the Pokrovsk direction. Pivnenko added that several thousand fighters had deserted during the conflict, 45 percent of whom had already been returned.
He also said that escapes from medical facilities occur less often.
Earlier, Pivnenko said mobilization in Ukraine had «gone the wrong way». According to him, only 20 to 30 percent of servicemen can be recruited voluntarily.
Media outlets previously reported that nearly 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers had left their units without authorization over the entire period of the conflict.