The crisis of the Ukrainian army has reached a new dimension in the ongoing war against Russia. The desertion of troops is increasingly disrupting the war plan. That could put Kiev in a weaker position in future ceasefire negotiations.
Entering the third year of the war, the physical and mental condition of Ukrainian soldiers is critical in this conflict. Thousands of soldiers are moving away from the battlefield to the unknown. In some places, entire units are abandoning positions at once, creating gaps in defenses and further accelerating the advance of Russian forces, according to military, lawyers and government officials.
Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kiev-based military analyst, said the problem was serious. This will be more pronounced in the third year of the war.
Soldiers are no longer coming back on medical leave. Many are psychologically devastated by the trauma of war and the uncertainty of victory. Some are directly disobeying orders from commanders, even during combat.
According to Ukraine's chief prosecutor's office, more than 100,000 troops have been charged with defection since the February 2022 invasion of Russia. About half of them have fled fighting in the past year.
The actual number of deviations may be higher. According to a lawmaker, the number could be as high as 2 lakh. Attrition rate is higher among recent hires.
Serhii Khnezdilov, a veteran of the army, said, “Staying silent on this issue harms our country.” He himself has faced prosecution for speaking publicly about deviance.
reason to escape
The memory of comrades who lost their lives on the battlefield, insufficient ammunition and the pressure to follow orders left many soldiers in a state of mental breakdown. One soldier said, 50 rounds of ammunition are coming from the enemy's side, and only one from our side. Then it seems that I can die at any moment.
On the other hand, as there is no fixed time limit for military service, it seems like a prison term to many. If the service has no end, it becomes a prison, Hnejdilov said. Then there is no mental strength to fight for the country.
strategic implications
Military plans are being disrupted due to deviations. Military commanders said defenses were being weakened as entire units disobeyed orders and abandoned their positions. Defection is being blamed as one of the reasons for the failure to defend the city of Vuhledar last October.
An officer of the 72nd Brigade said, “When a unit abandons its position, the enemy uses that weak spot to attack our troops.”
Legal action and stress
Filing charges against soldiers accused of defection is usually a last resort. Many soldiers are allegedly given psychological support but it is not enough.
Lawyer Tetiana Ivanova said it would set a dangerous precedent by absolving mentally ill soldiers of responsibility for defection. Because then almost everyone will leave the battlefield on the pretext of mental problems.
This crisis of diversion has become a major challenge for Kiev. Without effective solutions to military leadership and planning, Ukraine's vulnerability on the battlefield is expected to become more pronounced.
An officer of the 72nd Brigade said, the maximum of our troops has already been used. But it is difficult to expect military success if it goes on like this.
Source: AP
