NewsThe crumbling morale within Russia's ranks in Ukraine, mass desertions

The crumbling morale within Russia's ranks in Ukraine, mass desertions

Reference photo.

Images source: © Getty Images | Michael Sugrue

29 April 2024 17:29

As many as 18,000 Russian soldiers were said to have left the military ranks during the war in Ukraine. A significant portion of this number, conscripts who were mobilized at the beginning of the war, may have done so due to low morale, according to Ukrainian media.

"Kyiv Independent," citing the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, reports that soldiers from the Russian Southern Military District, whose units are deployed in Ukraine, are increasingly deserting their posts.

Many observers point to low morale as a returning problem for the Russian Armed Forces fighting in Ukraine. Ukrainian media report that of the 18,000 soldiers of the Southern Military District, about 12,000 belong to the 8th Combined Army – a unit often used during wartime operations in eastern Ukraine.

Specifically, it was said that as many as 10,000 mobilized conscripts and 2,000 contract soldiers have left their ranks.

Ukraine encourages desertion and switching sides

At the beginning of this month, the British Ministry of Defence reported that Russian forces in Ukraine mainly comprise contract soldiers and reservists mobilized at the end of 2022. Still, conscripts are often pressured to sign contracts.

According to the agency's statement, the desertion rate in the Russian 58th Combined Armed Army is about 2,500 soldiers, according to "Kyiv Independent".

Ukrainian media reminds us that Kyiv authorities encourage Russian army units to desert or switch sides. In September 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence launched a hotline to assist Russian soldiers wanting to surrender.