Kiev’s other front: low morale, desertions and insubordination. In the first four months of the year alone, Ukrainian prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings against nearly 19,000 soldiers who abandoned their positions or deserted. CNN revealed this in a report on the situation of Ukrainian troops on the front. “These are shocking figures,” the broadcaster commented, broadcasting them. And most likely incomplete: several commanders have in fact declared that many officers do not report desertions and unauthorized absences, hoping to convince troops to return voluntarily, without incurring punishment. This approach has become so common that Ukraine has changed the law to decriminalize desertion and absences without permission, if committed for the first time.
The broadcaster spoke to six commanders and officers who are still or were until recently on the front fighting or coordinating units in the area. All of them described desertion and insubordination as widespread problems, especially among recruits. “Not all mobilized soldiers leave their positions, but most do, when newcomers see how difficult it is. They see a lot of enemy drones, artillery and mortars,” a commander of the unit fighting in Pokrovsk told CNN. He also asked not to be named. “They reach their positions once and, if they survive, they never return. Either they leave their positions, or they refuse to go into battle, or they try to find a way to leave the army,” he said.
Unlike those who volunteered at the start of the war, many of the new recruits had no choice. They were called up after Ukraine’s new mobilization law came into force in the spring, and cannot legally leave until the government announces demobilization, unless they get special permission to do so. That’s why desertions and unexplained absences go unreported: “Threats only make matters worse. A smart commander will delay threats, or even avoid them altogether,” one of them explained.
#insubordinations #desertions #morale #Tempo
2024-09-09 04:17:03
Table of Contents
Kiev’s Other Front: The Crisis of Low Morale, Desertion, and Insubordination in the Ukrainian Army
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, a crisis of low morale, desertion, and insubordination has emerged as a significant challenge for the Ukrainian army. In the first four months of 2024 alone, Ukrainian prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings against nearly 19,000 soldiers who abandoned their positions or deserted [[1]]. This shocking figure is likely incomplete, as many officers do not report desertions and unauthorized absences, hoping to convince troops to return voluntarily without incurring punishment.
The problem is so widespread that Ukraine has changed the law to decriminalize desertion and absences without permission, if committed for the first time [[1]]. This approach has become common, with commanders opting not to report desertions in the hope that soldiers will return voluntarily.
The situation is particularly dire among new recruits, many of whom were called up after Ukraine’s new mobilization law came into force in the spring [[1]]. Unlike those who volunteered at the start of the war, these soldiers have no choice but to fight, and cannot legally leave until the government announces demobilization.
Commanders and officers on the front lines have described desertion and insubordination as widespread problems, especially among recruits [[1]]. “Not all mobilized soldiers leave their positions, but most do, when newcomers see how difficult it is,” said a commander of a unit fighting in Pokrovsk [[1]]. “They see a lot of enemy drones, artillery, and mortars… They reach their positions once and, if they survive, they never return.”
Reports from various sources confirm the scale of the problem. According to TASS, nearly 4,700 cases of soldiers abandoning their posts were registered in Ukraine since the beginning of 2024, a significant increase from previous years [[2]]. Another report by TASS states that the Ukrainian authorities have recorded 37,000 cases of desertion and abandonment of military units since the beginning of the year [[3]].
The crisis is not limited to the Ukrainian army, as reports also suggest that thousands of Russian soldiers have deserted their posts in Ukraine as troop morale continues to plummet [[4]].
The Ukrainian government’s decision to decriminalize desertion and absences without permission is seen as a desperate attempt to stem the tide of desertions and maintain morale among troops. However, the root causes of the problem, including forced conscription and the harsh realities of war, will require more comprehensive solutions to address.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, the crisis of low morale, desertion, and insubordination poses a significant challenge to the Ukrainian army’s ability to prosecute the war effectively. It is crucial that the Ukrainian government and military leaders acknowledge the scale of the problem and work towards finding solutions that address the root causes of the crisis.
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Keywords: Ukraine, Ukrainian army, desertion, insubordination, low morale, military crisis, forced conscription, war.
What factors are contributing to low morale and desertions among Ukrainian soldiers in the ongoing conflict?
Low Morale, Desertions, and Insubordination: The Hidden Front in Ukraine’s War
As the war between Ukraine and Russia continues to rage on, a less visible but equally troubling issue has emerged: low morale, desertions, and insubordination among Ukrainian troops. In the first four months of 2024 alone, Ukrainian prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against nearly 19,000 soldiers who abandoned their positions or deserted. This staggering figure is likely incomplete, with many commanders choosing not to report desertions and unauthorized absences in the hopes of convincing troops to return voluntarily, without incurring punishment.
According to CNN, six commanders and officers who are still or were recently on the front lines described desertion and insubordination as widespread problems, particularly among new recruits. Many of these soldiers were called up after Ukraine’s new mobilization law came into force in the spring and cannot legally leave until the government announces demobilization. As a result, desertions and unexplained absences go unreported, with smart commanders choosing to delay or avoid threats altogether, knowing that they only make matters worse.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many of the new recruits had no choice but to join the war effort, unlike those who volunteered at the start of the conflict. This has led to a sense of disillusionment and demoralization among the troops, with many feeling that they are being forced to fight a war they did not sign up for.
In response to this crisis, Ukraine has changed the law to decriminalize desertion and absences without permission, if committed for the first time. However, this move is seen as a band-aid solution to a much deeper problem. The root causes of low morale, desertions, and insubordination must be addressed if Ukraine is to have any hope of winning the war.
Meanwhile, Russian forces in Ukraine are also experiencing similar problems. According to various reports, Russian soldiers are deserting their units in droves, with many fleeing to neighboring ex-Soviet countries where they are stuck in limbo. In fact, a growing number of Russian deserters and draft dodgers have fled to neighboring countries, where they live in fear of being hunted down by their own government [[2]].
The Russian army’s problems are further exacerbated by corruption and fragging, which threaten unit cohesion and morale [[1]]. Fragging, in particular, is a serious issue, with soldiers attacking and even killing their fellow comrades, often due to personal grievances or disputes over resources.
In a separate report, it was revealed that a growing number of Russian soldiers are deserting their military units in Ukraine, with 2076 cases reported by independent news outlet Mediazone [[3]].
The crisis of low morale, desertions, and insubordination in Ukraine and Russia’s armies is a pressing issue that must be addressed
