British intelligence, citing Russian media, posted on Monday that the number of criminal cases brought in Russia against its soldiers for going absent without leave (AWOL) have so far reached 20,538, including both those who have deserted and failed to carry out orders.
Russian media outlet Mediazona stated that most of the cases in that period, between February 2022 to the end of May 2025, were cases against of soldiers who went AWOL. (In Russia, that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison). More than 86 percent of the cases have been prosecuted, he media outlet wrote.
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“There are a range of factors that can lead a soldier to desert,” the British intelligence report continued. “Brutal discipline in the Russian Armed Forces, poor medical treatment for injured soldiers and inadequate military training all likely contribute to Russian service personnel going AWOL.”
“This all runs counter to the official narrative that the Russian leadership values the military service of those who fight in Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. It is a realistic possibility that those prosecuted could commute their sentence by serving in the Russian Storm-Z convict assault units.”
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 30 June 2025.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 30, 2025
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/U9HZW5XZyG#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/1HYZ3viNES
The UK estimates that about one million Russian soldiers have been either killed or wounded since Moscow launched its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
UK Defense Intelligence estimated earlier this month that approximately 250,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or are missing, marking the highest number of Russian military losses since World War II.
UK to Supply Ukraine with £752M for 150,000 Drones, Air Defense
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces have claimed that Russia suffers an average of more than 1,250 casualties daily.
Russia has suffered 1 million combat losses in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 12, 2025
This is the devastating human cost Putin is inflicting on his own people.
This invasion is a betrayal of his people who are bearing the true cost of this war.#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/bilj1zC19o
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