After reviewing documents from Ukrainian courts, the Novosti news agency reported that the number of cases related to desertion of servicemen has increased at an unprecedented rate since the beginning of this year.
Based on this report, from January 1, 2026 to May 20, the number of Ukrainian military desertions reached 47,098.
This figure represents an increase of about 83.9% compared to the same period in 2025.
Novosti added that this figure accounts for 59.5 percent of all recorded cases of military desertion throughout 2025.
It was previously reported that in the first half of 2025, the number of legal cases against military personnel accused of desertion had more than tripled compared to the same period in 2024.
