Desertion surge in Ukraine: The inflatable mattress escape

Recently, Ukrainian border guards foiled an unusual border-crossing attempt. The protagonist of this story was a 39-year-old man who attempted to reach Moldova on an inflatable mattress.

The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly two years. Throughout this period, the situation involving the Ukrainian army has seen its ups and downs. Yet, there are continuous discussions, both in the West and within Ukraine, about the major challenges faced by the local military forces.

One of the primary issues often discussed is the critical need for Western equipment supplies. Despite significant deliveries, the impact seems negligible when there's a lack of personnel to utilize it. The issue of personnel is particularly pressing as desertion rates in Ukraine have surged alarmingly since the onset of the conflict.

The issue of desertion among Ukrainian men is gaining attention not just within Ukraine but also in countries like the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland, where the number of deserters reaches several hundreds of thousands. The discussion around this issue was notably amplified by a statement from the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, declaring a crackdown on deserters.

"If these individuals believe that while someone else fights and risks their life at the front, they can comfortably live abroad and still enjoy state benefits, they are mistaken,” Dmytro Kuleba wrote on the X platform.

Despite such statements, attempts at desertion continue. A recent popular film featured a Ukrainian man trying to cross into Moldova on an inflatable mattress. Border guards caught him, turned back, and fined approximately £3,435.