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With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the challenge of desertion, or 'duck-out', has gained prominence. In several regions, a substantial number of servicemen have been reported to abandon their posts, leading to organized schemes that facilitate desertion. Notably, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine have been instrumental in uncovering such networks, exposing FSB agents within the military. Figures from the Prosecutor General's Office indicate a significant rise in desertion cases, with over 310,000 AWOL and desertion cases registered since the conflict's escalation. Efforts to curb these instances include legal amendments allowing return without penalties, highlighting ongoing adjustments in the military and legislative responses to address this issue effectively. The complexities surrounding duck-out underscore the multifaceted challenges faced by Ukrainian authorities amid the war.
What measures are taken against duck-out in Ukraine?
In Ukraine, numerous measures have been implemented against duck-out, including legal amendments, intensified investigations, and cooperation between the State Bureau of Investigation and Security Services. These efforts aim to dismantle organized desertion networks and encourage voluntary returns under updated procedures granting exemptions from penalties.
How have duck-out cases impacted the Ukrainian military?
The impact of duck-out cases on the Ukrainian military is significant, leading to over 310,000 desertion reports. Such cases challenge military cohesion and morale, prompting comprehensive responses from law enforcement to maintain order and discipline within the armed forces amidst ongoing conflict.
Are there legal consequences for desertion in Ukraine?
Yes, desertion in Ukraine entails legal consequences. However, recent legislative changes have introduced opportunities for servicemen to return to their units voluntarily without facing criminal penalties. This approach aims to balance maintaining order with understanding the complex realities soldiers face.
What role does the Prosecutor General's Office play in addressing duck-out?
The Prosecutor General's Office plays a crucial role in addressing duck-out, registering criminal cases of AWOL and desertion, and providing procedural guidance. The office also compiles statistical data, guiding policy adjustments and aiding in the formulation of strategic responses against desertion.
Why is data on desertion sometimes restricted in Ukraine?
Data on desertion is occasionally restricted in Ukraine to prevent misuse by adversaries, particularly Russia, in information operations. Limiting data access helps maintain national security and strategic advantages, ensuring critical information does not compromise the safety and integrity of Ukrainian operations.
How are Ukrainian authorities addressing organized desertion networks?
Ukrainian authorities address organized desertion networks through coordinated investigations with entities like the State Bureau of Investigation and National Police. These efforts focus on dismantling networks that facilitate unauthorized servicemen exits, charging suspects, and reinforcing military discipline.
What is the significance of voluntary returns for deserters in Ukraine?
Voluntary returns are significant for deserters in Ukraine as they provide an opportunity to reintegrate into military service without facing punitive measures, fostering a chance for rehabilitation. Such policies aim to mitigate desertion rates, offering clemency while restoring servicemen to active duty.
How have recent developments affected the perception of military service in Ukraine?
Recent developments, including desertion cases and legal amendments, highlight the complexities of military service amid conflict. They affect perceptions by balancing the challenges of service with policies encouraging accountability and voluntary returns, thus influencing morale and operational readiness.
What challenges are posed by desertion during the Ukrainian conflict?
Desertion poses substantial challenges during the Ukrainian conflict, affecting military strength and operational efficiency. It requires strategic responses to prevent further depletion of military personnel and ensure cohesive defense efforts, necessitating robust legal and investigative frameworks to manage this issue.
TOP news duck-out
Ukrainian soldier joined militants after committing grave crime, - Staff A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine defected to the Russian militants yesterday, Dec. 1, after committing a grave crime. 239 970 268
Terrorist Girkin confirms mass desertion of "DPR" militants deployed at Avdiivka, - journalist Ex-leader of the so-called "DPR" Igor Strelkov aka Girkin reports about mass desertion of "DPR" militants from the 11th motorized rifle regiment involved in battles near Avdiivka. 180 646 209 Previously in trend: Avdiivka fighting
Putin denounces detention of Russian servicemen at Crimean border, claims treachery The capture of Russian military at the border with occupied Crimea is a treachery. 132 881 348 Previously in trend: Occupation of Crimea Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
Russian military detained at border with Crimea defected from Ukrainian army after peninsula occupation, - SBU spokesperson The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested two deserters at the border with Crimea who joined the Russian army after it had occupied the peninsula. 126 183 167 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
"No charges can be brought against Ukraine," - Russian lawyer on defectors detained at Crimean border The Russian Defense Ministry accused the Security Service of Ukraine of "gross provocation". Two Russians (Ukrainian ex-servicemen who violated oath by joining the Russian army) were allegedly abducted in occupied Crimea and brought into the territory of Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities insist that the detained defectors crossed the border on their own and were detained in the territory of Ukraine. 125 879 94 Previously in trend: Occupation of Crimea Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
Crimea’s military personnel training center ex-deputy head gets eight-year term for treason, desertion, - main military prosecutor. PHOTO Darnytsia district court of Kyiv sentenced ex-deputy head of Ukraine’s Navy and Air Force Personnel Training Center in Crimea to eight years in jail for treason and desertion. 52 640 65
Soldier Popov deserts with personal weapon after killing comrade The 93rd Mechanized Brigade has given details of the incident with a Ukrainian serviceman who killed his commander and defected to the enemy. 51 304 68
Four ‘DPR’ militants tried to desert and were killed by comrades, - Intelligence Four pro-Russian militants tried to abandon their positions and were shot by their own comrades from IFV weapons. 46 620 112 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
Russia strengthens border to prevent inflow of deserters from Donbas, - Ukraine's MoD Russians are building fortifications on their side of the border with Ukraine in order to prevent the penetration of deserters from the Donbas. 45 297 93 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Russian soldier deserts from militant troops in Donbas Amid lack of motivation for further participation in Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine and deeper financial and social welfare problems, the number cases of deserting from rebel troops (the so-called 1st Army Corps, Donetsk) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has increased. 41 275 56
Eight Russian soldiers serving in occupied Donbas deserted, - Defense Intelligence Agency The morale in the detachments of the 9th Separate Assault Motorized Rifle Regiment of Marine Infantry (Novoazovsk) of the 1 Army Corps (Donetsk) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is extremely low due to the forced recruitment and significant losses sustained over the past week. 33 306 43
Russian border guards report detention of two Ukrainian military in Rostov region Two Ukrainian servicemen are reported to have been apprehended in Russia's Rostov region. 33 184 87
Over 21,600 soldiers went AWOL from army in October – Ihor Lutsenko According to official data, more than 21,000 military personnel left the service without permission in October. 26 528 220 Previously in trend: AWOL in AFU
Occupiers beat those who refused to go into battle with sticks: "That’s it! You’re already "200th", f#ck!". VIDEO A video has been published online in which two occupiers are beaten with sticks by their colleagues. 26 309 104 Previously in trend: War
Russian reports of "Ukrainian deserters" are element of hybrid warfare, - State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Russian media reports on the seizure of two Ukrainian deserters are a manipulation of facts aimed at discrediting the country. 26 189 48
Mobilized residents of Donbas are deserting en masse from "army of DPR", - Kazansky. PHOTOS In occupied Donetsk, Rashists are posting announcements about the search for deserters who refused to fight in the "army of the DNR". 23 287 77 Previously in trend: War
Military Prosecutor’s Office initiated 16,000 cases against military absentees while Interior Ministry found only a thousand of them The military prosecutor's office has opened 16,000 criminal proceedings against army defectors but the police was able to find less than a thousand of them. 22 757 200
Group of 21 Russian occupants deserted on November 30 in Donetsk region and was completely destroyed - General Staff Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff released information on facts of desertion in occupants’ army. 22 441 34 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
Russian military Odyntsov and Baranov detained at Crimean border arrested for 2 months Court imposed a two-month pretrial confinement against Ukrainian ex-servicemen Oleksandr Baranov and Maksym Odyntsov who deserted to Russian army and were recently detained at the border with occupied Crimea. 20 269 97
Russian soldier from brigade accused of atrocities in Bucha fled to Spain and wants to testify about crimes of Russians The former serviceman of the armed forces of the Russian Federation declared his readiness to cooperate with the international investigation of the war crimes of the occupiers. 19 619 53 Previously in trend: War
SBI detained soldier of 56th SMIB Hnezdilov, who publicly went AWOL. PHOTO A soldier of the 56th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade, Serhii Hnezdilov, who publicly stated about AWOL, was detained. 19 052 117
Rada adopts draft law on easing liability for AWOL or desertion The Verkhovna Rada has adopted in the second reading a draft law that provides for the possibility of exempting military personnel from criminal liability for AWOL or desertion. 17 299 31 Previously in trend: War
There is tendency to increase number of cases of AWOL - Supreme Court Chief Justice Kravchenko Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Stanislav Kravchenko notes a tendency to increase the number of registered cases of AWOL, desertion and failure to comply with orders. 16 708 192 Previously in trend: War
Captured deserters may be put on prisoner swap list, - SBU's Hrytsak Two former Ukrainian servicemen Oleksandr Baranov and Maksym Odyntsov, apprehended at the Crimean border on Nov. 20, may be added to the list of persons that can be exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners held in the terrorist-controlled territory. 16 215 56 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
Verkhovna Rada is working on bill on complete exemption from criminal liability for AWOL - "servant of people" Venislavskyi The parliament is currently working on a bill that provides for complete exemption from criminal liability if a person goes AWOL and voluntarily returns to the army. 14 111 72
Occupiers are afraid of HIMARS strikes and are fleeing from bases and warehouses in the Zaporizhia region According to Ukrainian intelligence, after the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the military facilities of the occupiers with high-precision weapons in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhia region, panic began in the occupier's army. 14 068 29 Previously in trend: War
Rada adopts law in first reading providing for exemption from criminal liability for prolonged AWOL or desertion In the first reading, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law that provides for the possibility of exempting military personnel from criminal liability for prolonged absence without leave (prolonged AWOL) or desertion. 11 957 64 Previously in trend: War
Ukrainian Armed Forces: Russian occupants start to rebel and flee from trenches in Tavria direction The units of the Russian occupation forces in the Tavria direction do not want to attack, they are rebelling and fleeing from the trenches. 11 519 34 Previously in trend: War
Russia's report of Ukrainian "deserters" was planned. Manipulation of facts is obvious, - Slobodian Russia is manipulating facts and spreading false information about the apprehension of Ukrainian "border guards-deserters." 11 410 20
About 500 Russian troops refused to fight and returned to Kabardino-Balkaria. They were not brought to trial, but only fired Now they are trying to resume in court, calling their dismissal illegal. 11 377 12 Previously in trend: War
Ex-Navy Deputy Commander Yelisieiev to be questioned on suspicion of treason, desertion, terrorism The Military Prosecutor's Office of the Southern region summons former Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Serhii Yelisieiev for questioning. 11 373 36 Previously in trend: Occupation of Crimea
Russian Guard in Zaporizhzhia region shot 6 Russian soldiers who expressed desire to surrender, - General Staff The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released information on the methods used by the occupants to combat desertion in their own troops. 10 927 30 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
Ex-officer from Lviv region gets life sentence for betraying Ukraine: fled to Moscow and leaked data on Ukraine’s Armed Forces equipment – SBI A former officer from the Lviv region who, while on leave abroad, fled to Russia and passed information to the occupiers about his unit’s military equipment and the deployment of its personnel has been sentenced to life imprisonment. 10 841 106 Previously in trend: High treason
"Sit down, sit down, f#ck!" – occupiers beat their own for desertion during combat. VIDEO Russian troops beat their comrade for abandoning his combat position and "leaving his own behind." 10 465 38 Previously in trend: Desertion in the army
An Armed Forces sergeant deserted and tricked prisoner’s wife out of 70,000 UAH, promising to release him from captivity. PHOTOS A soldier from Sumy region did not return to his military unit after treatment. He engaged in fraud: he deceived the wife of a prisoner of war and tricked her out of UAH 70 thousand for promises to release her husband from captivity. 10 279 19
Armed Russian convicts in ranks of Russian army regularly leave units and try to desert - General Staff AFU General Staff released information on cases of desertion by prisoners who were mobilized in Russia and sent to Ukraine. 8 568 47 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
Nearly 290,000 AWOL and desertion cases opened during full-scale war – Prosecutor General’s Office. INFOGRAPHICS From January 2022 to September 2025, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies opened nearly 290,000 criminal proceedings for absence without leave (AWOL) and desertion. 8 325 126 Previously in trend: AWOL in AFU
Stole car at training ground and fired at police officers: deserter detained in Rivne region, - National Police. PHOTOS The 49-year-old suspect left the military unit without permission, stole a car from the training ground and went into hiding from the investigation. During a search, police seized prohibited items and substances. 8 031 72 Previously in trend: AWOL in AFU
About 110 soldiers deserted from Russian army units overnight - General Staff Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff releases updated information on mass desertions in Russian army. 7 830 30 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
About 14,900 criminal cases filed against deserters in Crimea in 2014-2015, - military prosecutor 14,894 criminal proceedings have been imitated by the prosecution authorities regarding almost 19,000 soldiers, who remained in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea during the Russian occupation of the peninsula in 2014-2015, and whose actions bore signs of draft evasion and desertion. 7 656 65 Previously in trend: Occupation of Crimea
More than 40 occupiers from 150 motorized rifle divisions were sent from Luhansk region to Russian Federation under convoy. They refused to participate in battles - General Staff In the occupying forces of the Russian Federation, there are numerous cases of servicemen refusing to carry out criminal orders and participate in hostilities. 6 492 14 Previously in trend: War
Soldier of 56th SMIB Hnezdilov, who publicly went for AWOL, was informed of suspicion - lawyer Shadrin Serhiy Hnezdilov, a soldier of the 56th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade, who publicly reported on AWOL, was served with a suspicion of desertion. 6 315 31
Russia resumes practice of blocking squads and shooting deserters, - British intelligence Russia is probably resorting to the tactic of shooting at deserters, which shows the low morale and indiscipline of the Russian troops 5 831 17
Soldiers who left their units without permission for first time started returning to front instead of imprisonment - SBI Some detained servicemen who left the unit without permission for the first time and voluntarily decided to continue their service were released from custody. 5 611 34
There is panic in ranks of occupiers, there are confirmed facts of increasing desertion, - Ministry of Defense Panic moods continue to spread among the personnel of the Russian occupation forces. 4 789 15
Over 250,000 AWOL and desertion cases opened during war – Prosecutor’s Office Over the course of the war, more than 200,000 cases have been opened in Ukraine for AWOL, and over 50,000 for desertion. 4 750 60 Previously in trend: AWOL in AFU
Zelenskyy signs law on voluntary return to service after first AWOL or desertion President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Law No. 12095 on voluntary return to service for those who have gone AWOL from a military unit or deserted for the first time. 3 902 29
How to return after AWOL or deserting: SBI explains updated procedure As of 1 March 2025, an updated procedure has come into effect for servicemembers who have gone AWOL (Absent Without Leave). 3 799 8 Previously in trend: Returning to the Armed Forces after AWOL
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