Authored by Kyle Anzalone via The Libertarian Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian soldiers refusing to report for duty or walking away from their front-line positions are becoming an increasing problem for Kiev. One Ukrainian lawmaker said that there have been as many as 200,000 desertions<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukrainian officials and soldiers told the AP<\/a> that “Facing every imaginable shortage, tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops, tired and bereft, have walked away from combat and front-line positions to slide into anonymity<\/strong>.”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The report adds, “Entire units have abandoned their posts<\/strong>, leaving defensive lines vulnerable and accelerating territorial losses, according to military commanders and soldiers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Some take medical leave and never return, haunted by the traumas of war and demoralized by bleak prospects for victory,” writes The Associated Press. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Others clash with commanders and refuse to carry out orders, sometimes in the middle of firefights.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Soldiers failing to report to their posts are a rapidly worsening problem for Kiev. In 2022, only 9,000 Ukrainians were prosecuted for desertion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That number increased to 24,000 in 2023. Ukrainian government data showed prosecutions skyrocketed<\/strong> to 50,000<\/a> during the first nine months of 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutions do not capture the whole picture as one Ukrainian lawmaker told AP the number “could be as high as 200,000.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The growing problem is likely a result of war fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It is clear that now, frankly speaking, we have already squeezed the maximum out of our people,” <\/strong><\/em>said one military officer. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/assets.zerohedge.com\/s3fs-public\/styles\/inline_image_mobile\/public\/inline-images\/ukrainetroopsfile.jpg?itok=5lYKyoXt\")
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