Overview
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said official Ukrainian prosecutor data show 15,000 to 18,000 soldiers leave the ranks each month.
- Serving former Ukrainian MP Igor Lutsenko said 21,602 cases of unauthorized absence were recorded in October, describing a soldier leaving the army roughly every two minutes.
- RIA Novosti, citing Russian security interlocutors, called the October figure a new high, exceeding a previously reported spike of about 19,900 in May 2025.
- Zakharova referenced more than 230,000 criminal cases for AWOL and 53,000 for desertion opened since February 2022, while adding that some experts estimate the true total could near 500,000.
- Zakharova linked underreporting to a June 1 rule change she said encouraged commanders to delay filings, and Russian sources blamed forced mobilization and alleged command failures for the departures.