The Associated Press writes that the defection deprives the Ukrainian army of manpower and paralyzes its war plans at a critical moment in the war with Russia. He adds that this could put Kyiv in a very unfavorable position in terms of possible future ceasefire negotiations. – The problem has been criticized, – admits one of the analysts brought by the agency.
The Associated Press writes, “with every possible drawback, tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, tired and out of strength, fled the battlefield and the front positions.” According to the reports of the military commanders, all units abandoned their positions and left the defense line without soldiers, thereby accelerating the loss of territory.
Some take sick leave and never return, haunted by war trauma and fed by the bleak prospect of the war ending. Others fight with their commanders and refuse to obey orders, sometimes during fights.
Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military analyst from Kyiv, believes that the defector problem has “become significant”. And adds that it will only increase. As Moscow grapples with defectors, the agency notes, the Ukrainian defectors have “exposed deep problems with their military, as well as Kiev's approach to the war, from misalignment to the expansion and destruction of frontline units.
An “extremely large number” of defects
The Associated Press reports on the report of two escapees. Only one of them agreed to speak by name. To tell the truth, we have already squeezed the maximum out of our people, – says the commander of the 72nd Brigade.
According to the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, since February 24, 2022, that is, since the beginning of the large-scale Russian attack, more than one hundred thousand soldiers have been accused of desertion. About half of them left the army voluntarily in the past year, after the start of mobilization in Kiev, which was recognized by government officials and military commanders.
Ukrainian soldiers near Kherson ROMAN PILIPEY/PAP/EPA
“This figure is extremely high, considering that 300,000 Ukrainian soldiers were estimated to have been involved in the fighting before the mobilization campaign began. And the actual number of defectors may be much higher. One official familiar with the military said it could be up to 200,000”, writes the Associated Press.
“Many deserters do not return to the front after receiving medical leave. They are tired of constant fighting, mentally and emotionally scarred. They feel guilty that they cannot muster the will to fight, they are angry at the way the war has been fought, and they become frustrated. , which seems impossible “- adds the agency. “Silence about the big problem will only harm our country,” said Sergey Gnezdilov, one of the few soldiers who spoke about his decision to desert.
“50 missiles coming from them, only one from us”
Another deserter, who did not want to be named, says he still has nightmares about the deaths of his fellow soldiers.
“The best way to explain it is to imagine that you are sitting under fire and 50 bullets are fired from them (Russian – ed.) at you and only one from ours. Then you see your friends in pieces. they do and you realize that at any moment it could be you,” he said, as quoted by the agency. “Meanwhile, the guys (Ukrainian soldiers – ed.) 10 kilometers away are giving orders on the radio: Come on, get ready (for further battles – ed.). Everything will be fine,” he added.
Ukrainian soldiers PAP/Abaca
War plans “turned to dust”
The Associated Press reports that the escape “turned Kiev's military plans into dust that slips through the fingers of military commanders.” He writes that this problem can leave Kyiv in a very unfavorable situation in the context of possible future ceasefire negotiations.
The agency learned about cases where the defense line was seriously violated due to disobedience of orders and desertion of all units. Gnezdilov claims that “due to the lack of political will and the mismanagement of forces, especially in the infantry, we are definitely not moving towards a proper defense of the territories we currently control.”
In September, the Ukrainian army reported a shortage of four thousand soldiers at the front, mainly due to deaths, injuries and desertions. Most of the deserters were among the newest recruits.
Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson region PAP/EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
Falling city, escape symbol
The head of the legal service of one of the Ukrainian brigades, which is responsible for reviewing cases of fugitives and sending them to law enforcement agencies, told AP that he has encountered many such cases.
“The most important thing is that they abandon their fighting positions during the exchange of fire, and because of this their comrades die. We have had several cases where entire units, large and small, have fled. They have exposed their flanks, and the enemy has come to these flanks and their comrades. they killed the gunmen because those in the position did not know that there was no one else around,” the official said.
An officer of the 72nd Brigade, who was among the last to die, “because of this, Vuhledar, a hill town that Ukraine had defended for two years, was lost in a few weeks in October.”
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Ukrainian lawyers interviewed by the AP say that when soldiers are accused, it is difficult to defend them. Defense attorneys focus on the state of mind of their clients when they flee. Lawyer Tatiana Ivanova says: “Mentally, people cannot cope with the situation they are in and do not get psychological help.”
But he adds that the soldiers who have been released from desertion for psychological reasons have created a “dangerous precedent”. – So everyone can be acquitted, – he admits.
Main photo credit: ROMAN PILIPEY/PAP/EPA
