Fighters from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ assault regiment «Shkval» are reportedly attempting to desert their positions en masse in Zaporozhye Region, according to sources in Russian security structures cited by TASS.

The sources said the wave of attempted desertions was triggered by heavy losses suffered by the unit. These casualties were attributed to strikes carried out with FAB aerial bombs as well as attacks by Geran drones.

According to the same sources, the regiment’s commanders have been reluctant to disclose the true scale of the losses in reports submitted to higher command, instead downplaying the situation in official communications.

Earlier, representatives of Russian security agencies reported the deaths of a group of Shkval regiment servicemen in Zaporozhye Region. As clarified by a source, the soldiers died during an attempted desertion. While trying to leave their positions, the Ukrainian troops reportedly froze to death along the way, and their location was later identified using drones.

The source also indicated that Ukrainian field commanders intend to present these deaths gradually as the result of drone and artillery strikes rather than as a failed attempt to abandon their positions.