The Scale of Desertion

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there is evidence of a significant rise in the number of Russian soldiers deserting the army, with estimates suggesting more than 13,000 criminal cases related to abandonment of military duties have been reported. A human rights organization has indicated that they receive around 300 requests monthly from soldiers seeking to desert and leave the country. The increase in desertions points to a troubling trend, suggesting that each month the number of court cases registered surpasses the previous month's statistics. Such desertions evoke polarized opinions within society, often branding the soldiers as either heroes or traitors based on individual perspectives.