Mass Desertion in the Russian Army—Over 50,000 Troops Flee Since Full-Scale Invasion

More than 50,000 Russian troops have deserted their units since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on March 5.

Ukrainian hackers reportedly accessed an internal presentation from Russia’s Defense Ministry, which detailed the number of criminal cases opened against Russian servicemen who went AWOL  as of December 15, 2024.

Ukraine’s OSINT community noted that some of these cases may include soldiers listed as deserters after disappearing during assaults.

According to the Ukrainian intelligence group Frontelligence Insight, which analyzed the leaked data, Russia has documented 50,554 cases of desertion between February 2022 and mid-December 2024. The highest number was recorded in Russia’s Southern Military District:

• Southern Military District – 22,577 cases

• Central Military District – 13,769 cases

• Moscow Military District – 7,178 cases

• Leningrad Military District – 3,052 cases

• Eastern Military District – 3,378 cases

The report also highlighted that 58.8% of all AWOL cases involved soldiers from the 51st Combined Arms Army (formerly the 1st Army Corps of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic”) and the 3rd Army Corps (formerly the 2nd Army Corps of the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic”).

Most desertions occurred between 2023 and 2024, with relatively fewer cases recorded in 2022.

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War in Ukraine

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Meanwhile, Ukraine has taken a different approach. Between November 29, 2024, and March 1, 2025, 21,100 Ukrainian servicemen returned to duty under a law that decriminalized first-time desertion and unauthorized absence.

Ukrainian authorities stated that those who went AWOL before November 29 could still return under a simplified process until March 1, 2025, allowing them to reintegrate into service within three days.

Most of those who rejoined went back to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, or the Border Guard Service.

Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chornogorenko emphasized the role of Armiya+, a digital platform that streamlined the return process, cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and allowing soldiers to resume service in just a few days.

“Through Armiya+, we’ve reduced the return-to-service time to just a few days without extra contacts or paperwork. Our digital services not only help soldiers come back but also enable them to find roles where they can be most effective,” Chornogorenko said.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia’s Defense Ministry amendments to the “Regulations on Military Medical Examination,” aimed to extend the validity of medical assessments and lower health requirements for military service.

Under the proposed rules, recruits diagnosed with primary, secondary, or latent syphilis would no longer be exempt from service. Instead of receiving a Category “V” (limited fitness) designation, making them ineligible, they would now be allowed to serve in roles such as guarding strategic missile complexes.

Similarly, those suffering from stage-one hypertension, who are currently exempt, would now be reclassified making them eligible for roles such as armored vehicle and missile system operators.

The proposal also raises the bar for medical exemptions for conditions like subclinical hypothyroidism, psoriasis, hives, and eczema.

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