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Ukraine Faces Rising Desertions with 45,543 Soldiers Deserted, Considers Drafting Women

Oct 19, 2024, 09:57 AM

Ukraine is facing significant challenges within its military ranks as desertions rise and morale declines. In the first eight months of 2024, 45,543 soldiers deserted from the Ukrainian army, according to data leaked by the Prosecutor General’s Office and reported by Brussels Signal. This alarming trend has prompted discussions about drafting women to bolster the military. Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former top general, suggested that drafting women could be necessary to 'save Europe.' Additionally, an officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Matyash, emphasized that the participation of all Ukrainians, including women and pensioners, is crucial for the country's survival. The situation is further complicated by statements from soldiers like Anatoly, an Azov veteran with the call sign 'Buffalo,' who described serving in the army as a 'one-way ticket,' with the only ways out being injury or death. Serhii Hnezdilov, another Ukrainian soldier, publicly deserted to highlight the need to replace exhausted troops with fresh conscripts, as reported by the New York Times.