Desertions Surge Among Russian Troops in Occupied Kherson

On the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine’s Kherson region, incidents of desertion among Russian soldiers have significantly increased, as reported by the National Resistance Center (NRC).

According to the NRC, many soldiers are fleeing or resorting to self-inflicted injuries to avoid further involvement in military operations. In response, Russian command has deployed additional forces from the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) to act as blocking units tasked with locating deserters.

The NRC further highlighted that Russian forces have been quartered along the banks of the Dnipro River in vacant Ukrainian homes and commandeered dormitories. The local occupation administration has been compiling lists of properties for this purpose.

The report states that these measures reflect broader challenges faced by the Russian military in sustaining morale and maintaining discipline in temporarily occupied territories.

The NRC called on residents of the region to report the positions and movements of Russian forces, noting that such information could contribute to expediting the withdrawal of occupying troops.

Earlier, an investigation revealed that over 1,000 soldiers from Russia’s 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division, including senior officers, deserted during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.