The Ukrainian Army has come "Crisis of desertion" - The Guardian

The journalists talked with the fighters who went to the HSC. Most of them talk about fatigue. They also complain about the unrealistic task of commanders and loss of motivation. When, three years ago, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine, Victor voluntarily defended Ukraine. He went to defend, then fought in the village of Tonenke near Avdiivka. "When I arrived, I was super -motivated. If I needed, I would give my life," he recalled.

However, gradually, the man confesses that he has come disappointment after one battle. "The Russians would defeat our positions," he said. Higher Ukrainian commanders gave unreal orders. When he protected the destroyed building, he fell on his shoulder concrete debris. After injections to reduce the pain, he was told to return to the front. "I realized that I am no one. Just a figure," he said. In May 2023, he went to treatment and did not return immediately, but went to the HSC.

Victor said he had returned to his team in August 2023, but he was told that he was not wanted. He was once trained in a sniper, and now manages the garage in the western part of Ukraine, where it repairs military equipment for free. "The issue of desertion has become loud in Ukraine. After three years of war, Ukraine is catastrophically lacking in soldiers, especially infantry. This facilitated the promotion of the Russian army to the east. There are also structural problems.

New brigades have been created from scratch. They showed themselves badly. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy He ordered a change of policy, introducing inexperienced recruits into existing battalions, " - writes the newspaper. Another deserter Alexei* said that he participated in the offensive operations of Ukrainian troops in the south of the Nikolaev and Kherson regions. In the winter of 2022, he quarreled with a new commander, to no avail request for transfer and was injured.

"I reached a boiling point. So I decided to go to where no one will find me," he said. Since then, Alexei has been hiding. He says he will take the weapon again if the Russians enter his city, or if the Ukrainian army becomes a truly reformed NATO -style force with the best generals. "The longer the war lasts, the more they will be like me," he says. The Commissioner of Ukraine for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen Olga Reshetilov says he understands why some people have gone free.

"Let's be honest. The problem is great. It is natural in a situation where you have three years of great war. People are exhausted. They want to see their families. Without them grow their children. Relations are destroyed. Wives and men cannot wait forever. They They feel lonely, "she said. According to her, many servicemen had poor mental health. A small conflict with the commander often provokes escape. "We have such a post -Soviet heritage when a soldier is a slave of its commander.

But the Ukrainian army is transforming. We try to change it, make it more modern and focused on humans," Olga Reshetilova said. She says the transfer was unpopular among the command that blocked them due to lack of troops. According to her, the government is working on a decision that will allow you to apply through the Army+ Appendix from the Ministry of Defense. At the same time, changes in the involvement of 18-25-year-olds, which are now released from mobilization, are being prepared.

They contain guarantees and measures to provide dialogue between soldiers and commanders. Reshetilov added that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers remain in their positions and are "gone". Recall that the Armed Forces are forced to adhere to the defense strategy, since mobilization in Ukraine hinders. During 2024, 30,000 people were recruited into the army monthly, but so many recruits were not enough to change the situation on the battlefield.