Desertion … it is without a doubt a big problem the Ukrainian army has been struggling with, especially in the face of the unrelenting Russian mechanized “meat assaults” numbering well over a hundred each day. And that does not include the bombardments from the gigantic FAB/KAB glide bombs. Couple that with the near absence of unit rotations and R & R at the hottest spots and the situation compounds. Under such circumstances soldiers in the predominantly volunteer Ukrainian army have in some circumstances left their positions, ostensibly to go back home to see the folks. Given the high casualty rates on the front lines … perhaps for the last time? It is generally a punishable offense of military regs for a soldier to go AWOL(absent without leave), for whatever reason.
The regular, even daily, bruiting about this Ukrainian problem by the media is darn near a frenzy:
Over 100,000 Soldiers Have Deserted Ukrainian Army: Report
thedefensepost.com/…
Tens of thousands of soldiers have deserted from Ukraine's army
www.euronews.com/…
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have deserted, hampering battle plans
nypost.com/…
Desertion threatens to starve Ukraine's forces at a crucial time in its war with Russia
abcnews.go.com/...
On the other hand, one hardly hears about a Russia so stressed for bodies to fill up its “meat assault” units that it is now emptying out reserves and even sending women ex-convicts into assaults:
“Russia is bringing in reserves from other areas, and the Russian military command is now forced to use a large portion of its strategic reserves, which it had built up this year, to try to capture territories in the Kurakhove, Vremivka, and Pokrovsk sectors. The Russian army doesn't have unlimited resources, so it's pulling in reserves, including armored vehicles and personnel, to support assault operations,” Voloshyn said.
He also mentioned that newly mobilized soldiers and former prisoners have been seen in the Russian army's ranks.
“We've recently learned that women in the Russian army are being used in assault operations (emphasis mine). These are former prisoners from the 'Storm' units - units made up of ex-convicts,” he added, noting that Russian prisons are almost empty due to mass mobilization.
global.espreso.tv/...
Ukraine, on the other hand, has come up with an adaptive practical solution to its AWOL problem … a humane one, I believe. The President of Ukraine has reportedly recently signed a new law granting soldiers (first time offenders) who left their units without permission or deserted, the opportunity to return to service:
Zelensky Signs Law Allowing AWOL Soldiers to Resume Service
mil.in.ua/...
In the few days that this law has been in effect, it is estimated that 6,000 AWOL Ukrainian soldiers have already taken advantage of this dispensation and returned to service. Considering that the average Ukrainian brigade is about 2,000 soldiers, a newly refreshed infusion of the equivalent of 3 combat brigades of already battle-tested soldiers is a timely boost to the Ukrainian effort to hold off the Russians:
6,000 Ukrainian soldiers who went AWOL, voluntarily return in November
global.espreso.tv/...
Here’s hoping more and more sons and daughters of Ukraine will voluntarily end their unapproved “sabbatical” and return to arms in defense of their beloved homeland where the soniashnyk(sunflower) forever blooms under the heavenly blue sky.
SLAVA UKRAINI
