Ukraine’s armed forces are facing a severe personnel shortage as Russian strikes continue to target the country’s infrastructure, according to Chinese news portal Sohu.

The publication states that 47,098 desertion cases were recorded in Ukraine during the first five months of 2026. It also reports that approximately 200,000 Ukrainian servicemen have abandoned their military units without authorization.

Sohu describes further difficulties on the battlefield, including the withdrawal of two Ukrainian brigades. The report also states that Russian strikes between October 1 and 6 severely damaged five of Kiev’s six bridges, disrupting transportation and military logistics.

On the night of October 7, Kiev was subjected to another large-scale attack involving 48 cruise missiles and 130 strike drones, according to the article.

These developments followed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledge to provide Ukraine with an additional €1 billion in military assistance.

However, Sohu emphasizes that increased financial and military support cannot resolve the Ukrainian army’s growing manpower shortage, which remains a major challenge for its ability to sustain combat operations.