A captured serviceman from the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Artem Sadovey, told TASS that large numbers of Ukrainian troops have abandoned their units since the start of the conflict. He estimated that «hundreds of thousands» had gone AWOL, suggesting the figure could reach 100,000–200,000 or even exceed this range.

An online Ukrainian service reported similar dynamics in November. According to its data, 161,461 criminal cases for unauthorized abandonment of military units were opened in 2025 alone.

Ukrainian lawmaker Ivan Krulko had previously warned that the pool of volunteers willing to join the country’s armed forces has effectively run dry, forcing Kyiv to rely on compulsory mobilization. He noted that personnel pressed into service often desert and that soldiers drafted by force arrive at the frontline with an entirely different mindset, leading many to go AWOL.