In 2024, the number of cases of desertion and voluntary abandonment of a military unit in the ranks of the Defense Forces of Ukraine increased to an alarming level, which became a serious challenge for the military command and society as a whole. From the very beginning of the full-scale war, many Ukrainians voluntarily enrolled in the ranks of the Armed Forces and Territorial Defense, feeling the obligation to protect their land and loved ones. In the first months of the war, these were inspired patriots, ready to sacrifice their comfort and life for the sake of freedom and independence of Ukraine. However, with the passage of time, the situation changed radically – people began to evade service en masse. However, the arbitrary abandonment of the part is no less a problem. More and more servicemen decide to leave their positions without permission, which significantly undermines the army’s combat effectiveness. Why did this happen?
The problem of the voluntary abandonment of a military unit and the desertion of the Ukrainian military
The problem of voluntary desertion of a military unit (SZCH) and desertion of Ukrainian soldiers existed from the very beginning of the war, but they tried not to talk about it out loud. However, the situation worsened significantly in 2023 and 2024, when these phenomena became massive. The head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Stanislav Kravchenko, stated that in 2023, 1,577 servicemen were sentenced for the facts of voluntary desertion and desertion, but this figure is only the tip of the iceberg. Verkhovna Rada deputy Ruslan Horbenko announced a different number – 80,000 cases of desertion, while military experts believe that the real number of deserters is much higher than this figure and may reach 150,000 people. Some even suggest that losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine caused by desertions are at least comparable to losses on the battlefield.
During 2024, the problem of voluntary desertion and desertion only intensified, turning into a general crisis. The information provided by the Prosecutor General’s Office in response to the request of the public organization “Public Integrity Council” indicates a sharp increase in the number of such cases. In the first eight months of 2024, 29,984 criminal proceedings were opened for the arbitrary abandonment of parts. This is significantly more than in 2022, when 6,641 cases were recorded, and in 2023, when the number of proceedings was 17,658.
These figures demonstrate the rapid growth of the problem and its transformation from isolated cases to a systemic threat to the country’s defense capability. If in the first years of the war, cases of SZH could be considered as exceptions, now it has become a mass phenomenon that requires immediate attention. The issue of desertion, which has become a significant problem, is particularly acute. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 15,559 cases of desertion were registered in the eight months of 2024, compared to 3,442 in 2022 and 7,883 in 2023.
The scale of desertion and SDF is alarming both in military circles and in society in general. After all, this phenomenon not only undermines the combat capability of the Ukrainian army, but also calls into question the effectiveness of military structures. When the number of deserters is measured in the tens of thousands, it indicates serious systemic problems with the morale of servicemen, their support and the general organization of defense. Even the strongest army cannot function effectively if a significant number of its soldiers leave their positions and voluntarily leave their units.
It is also worth noting that the growing number of cases of FGM and desertion endangers the security of the country as a whole. After all, every case of desertion is not only a refusal to fulfill military duty, but also a potential risk for other servicemen who remain on the front lines. This undermines morale and discipline in units, which reduces the overall effectiveness of the army.
Why military leave the service
One of the main reasons why the military chooses to leave the service is the lack of proper rotations. Soldiers on the front lines often remain unchanged for several months, and sometimes for a third year. Moreover, vacations and recreation become a luxury that only a few can afford. Those who got to the front as early as February 2022 can have only 10 days of rest twice a year.
This situation leads to excessive physical and psychological exhaustion. Commanders cannot always allow their subordinates to go on vacation, even if it is necessary. One of them admits:
“When there are few people in the unit, I cannot send everyone on vacation. Someone has to stay and defend.”
As a result, fighters are left without rest and a break in combat operations, which forces them to look for other ways to relieve tension, and most often this results in voluntary abandonment of the unit.
Soldiers are often ironically told that “demobilization will come when they become pensioners.” This sarcastic remark reflects their deep frustration at the lack of real prospects for long-term leave or discharge from the military for those who have been at the front for a long time. The question of demobilization became even more urgent during the discussion of the law on mobilization in the spring. Many in the military expected that this law would include provisions for the demobilization of those who had already served the longest. But at the last stage, these provisions were removed, which caused considerable indignation among them. For many fighters, this was a blow, because they expected that after a long stay at the front, they would finally be able to return home. This decision of the authorities looked like another neglect of the interests of those who have been performing their duty for a long time. Waiting for demobilization was one of the few moments that gave the soldiers hope for rest. But when it became clear that these hopes were in vain, it caused a wave of disappointment that only increased the internal tension in military circles.
Another important reason for the voluntary abandonment of a military unit is the low quality of the commanding staff, especially when unprofessional officers are at the head of the units. Often these commanders are staff officers with little or no experience in actual combat. They do not fully understand the challenges facing soldiers on the front lines, leading to poor or risky decisions. Such commanders often give ill-advised orders that result in unnecessary casualties among the military that could have been avoided with more competent leadership.
This situation causes strong indignation and demotivation among soldiers. The military sees that their lives on the front line depend on people who don’t have enough understanding of actual combat conditions. When casualties increase due to the unprofessionalism of commanders, soldiers feel the futility of their efforts and lose faith in the meaning of continuing their service. Therefore, the lack of professionalism among the command becomes another factor that forces soldiers to leave their units in order not to risk their own lives due to other people’s mistakes.
In addition, soldiers who are on the front lines for long periods of time without adequate support often face morale exhaustion. Constant shelling, stress, loss of siblings and lack of normal living conditions have a strong impact on their psyche. Physical exhaustion associated with continuous participation in hostilities leads to exacerbation of chronic diseases and emergence of new health problems.
According to the military, after several months at the front, even the most persistent fighters lose the ability to adequately assess the situation. This moral and physical exhaustion becomes the main motivator for voluntarily leaving the service. One of the soldiers says:
“We don’t have many cases of SZH, but people are running out of strength. Chronic diseases are getting worse, many people can’t stand it anymore.”
In such conditions, even ordinary duties seem like an unbearable burden.
“At first, there was no particular desire to fight, but over time I somehow got used to it, even excitement appeared, plus a sense of camaraderie – when I was wounded for the first time, I was even afraid that they would not allow me to return to the front, but such problems did not arise. However, fatigue accumulates over time, and you begin to see how people around you die or become disabled. But the most important thing is that it is absolutely not clear how it will all end and when. And life goes on… In the end, after the second injury in February 2024, I left the hospital for the SZCH”, – says a military man, and such cases are typical.
A sense of social injustice is another important reason for the increase in the number of SZH. The military, who defend the country on the front lines, see how many men in the rear avoid mobilization thanks to connections or bribes. This causes outrage and demoralization among those who risk their lives every day.
“I have a feeling of deep injustice when I see that some fight to the point of exhaustion, while others find a way to avoid service for several tens of thousands of hryvnias by any means.” – shares the military.
This feeling leads many to think that their participation in the hostilities is unfair, and if the opportunity arises to be released from the service, they will take it.
Also, military personnel often leave the service due to organizational deficiencies within the army. The lack of adequate supplies, shortages of ammunition, medical supplies, poor quality food and ineffective communication between the various branches of command create an impression of chaos. Many military personnel simply do not understand why they should continue their service if they do not feel supported by the command and the state.
Disorganization and bureaucracy only add to the problems the fighters face. For example, one of the battalions, after being withdrawn for replenishment, was declared unfit for combat due to losses and morale. However, the unit continued to participate in combat operations, despite the critical condition of its soldiers. Such situations only deepen the crisis and create prerequisites for desertion.
In addition to the problems with the organization of the service and provision, the military daily faces issues related to their legal and social security. It is difficult to imagine how they, those who risk their lives on the front lines, should also fight for the basics — adequate payments, access to medical care and basic social guarantees for themselves and their families. Instead of feeling the support of the state, many soldiers are forced to spend their energy fighting bureaucratic obstacles. Insufficient payments are one of the most pressing problems that make people feel abandoned. Payments for injury or disability are often delayed or not received at all. Military personnel are forced to stand in lines for hours, fill out endless forms and prove their rights to what is rightfully theirs. All this happens against the background of complete uncertainty – whether you will receive the money you are counting on or not.
Problems with access to medical care are another red flag. Soldiers who are injured or have serious health problems due to combat often cannot get the care they need because of red tape. For example, after a second wound, a soldier may be sent to a hospital, but he faces a situation where medical care is not provided in full or with long delays. In such a situation, there is a feeling that the system has betrayed them, left them to fend for themselves, which pushes many to the SZH.
The most painful issue for the military is the uncertainty of the future. Many wonder: What will happen to their families if they die or are seriously injured? Military personnel do not feel confident that their families will receive adequate support from the state should the worst happen. This fear for the well-being of their loved ones undermines the motivation of fighters and makes them think about voluntarily leaving the unit. After all, for many, the main reason for participating in hostilities is the protection of the family, and when there is doubt that the state will fulfill its obligations, there is a feeling of hopelessness.
Responsibility for SZCH
The problem of arbitrarily leaving a military unit has become so large that the state was forced to reconsider its approaches to punishment for this type of offense. The number of soldiers leaving their units due to morale, problems with command, or loss of faith in the system has skyrocketed, and harsh punishments are no longer the solution. Realizing that thousands of military personnel find themselves in a difficult psychological state and their return to service may be more beneficial than imprisonment, the state decided to take radical steps.
On August 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Law No. 11322, which provides for the possibility of exemption from criminal liability in some cases for SZH and desertion. It allows military personnel to be released from punishment if they left the military unit for the first time and voluntarily decided to return to service. An important condition is the presence of the commander’s written consent for their return, which actually gives them a second chance without the threat of criminal prosecution.
Moreover, on October 8, the Verkhovna Rada also supported in the first reading draft law No. 12095, which proposes even greater changes in the legal sphere regarding the SZH. Members of the military who first left the unit but then returned are allowed to continue in service with full reinstatement of pay, benefits and allowances. This decision will significantly speed up the return of military personnel to service, without having to wait months for court decisions, which previously dragged out the process and made the military feel abandoned. Resupply now resumes within 72 hours of returning to the unit, a huge step forward in maintaining soldier morale.
However, this decision caused heated discussions in the parliament. The co-author of the law, Oleksandr Zavitnevich, emphasized that the main goal of this law is to quickly return the military to their duties and solve problems with their support. He noted that until now, servicemen who voluntarily returned to service faced delays in the provision of food, clothing and weapons, as these issues were postponed pending a court decision, which could take months. The new law aims to solve these issues quickly, which will allow military personnel to join the ranks of the army faster.
However, not everyone supported this approach. Deputy Iryna Friz criticized the draft law, pointing out that it actually creates an opportunity for the legalization of desertion. She emphasized that such innovations can lead to abuses, when military personnel can de facto leave the service without the threat of serious consequences, which is contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Code.
Despite the disputes, Law No. 11322 has already been reflected in practice. Recently, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, for example, the court decided not to imprison a serviceman who voluntarily left a unit in December 2023, but after that expressed a desire to continue his service in another unit. The commander of the new unit supported his decision, and the court decided to release the soldier from criminal liability. Such precedents are becoming more and more frequent, as the state tries to give a second chance to those who left the units, but are ready to return and continue their service.
To stop the avalanche of arbitrary abandonment of units, a comprehensive approach is needed that goes far beyond punishments and threats. First of all, it is necessary to radically improve the system of rotations, providing the military with regular rest. Psychological support and timely help should become an integral part of army life, because moral exhaustion is an extremely important problem of our military. Another important step is to improve the quality of the command structure: experienced combat commanders must replace the “staff” whose rash decisions lead to unnecessary losses. The restoration of social justice is also an equally important factor, because the pressure of mobilization cannot rest only on the shoulders of certain categories. It is important to create a system where each fighter knows that his sacrifices are not in vain, and his family will have adequate protection. Without these changes, the cases of SZH will only increase, which can lead to catastrophic consequences in terms of the defense capability of our country.
