Fedorov: 2 Million Ukrainians Wanted for Draft Evasion, 200,000 Listed as AWOL

Two million Ukrainians are currently wanted for alleged mobilization evasion, while another 200,000 servicemen are listed as absent without official leave (AWOL), Ukraine’s newly appointed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

Fedorov made the statement during a speech in the parliament ahead of the vote on his appointment as defense minister.

“I don’t want to be a populist – I want to be a realist. The Ministry of Defense is coming into my hands with a Hr.300 billion [$6.7 million] shortfall, two million Ukrainians who are wanted [for evading mobilization], and 200,000 who are AWOL,” he said.

According to the Ukrainska Pravda outlet, citing a response from the Prosecutor General’s Office, nearly 290,000 criminal cases for unauthorized abandonment of military units were initiated in Ukraine between January 2022 and September 2025.

Of those, 235,646 criminal proceedings were registered for AWOL, while 53,954 were opened for desertion.

Thanks to a simplified mechanism allowing servicemen who left their units for the first time to return to service, more than 29,000 troops rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) between Nov. 29, 2024, and August 2025, according to State Bureau of Investigation Director Oleksiy Sukhachev.

Plans to audit Ukraine’s recruitment drive

Before his appointment, Fedorov also pledged to conduct a comprehensive audit of territorial recruiting centers (TRCs), stressing the need to “quickly and once and for all” reform the military training system.

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“The problem of the TRCs cannot be ignored. After a comprehensive audit, we will propose systemic solutions to the issues that have accumulated over the years, while preserving the country’s defense capability,” Fedorov said.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions surrounding recruitment. On Wednesday, an unknown individual opened fire on a TRC alert group vehicle in the village of Rudno near Lviv.

Local outlet Suspilne, citing Lviv region police spokeswoman Alina Podreiko, said no one was injured and a special police operation is underway.

Police said the driver of a Volkswagen Passat fired several shots at a Volkswagen Transporter carrying TRC servicemen conducting alert measures before fleeing the scene.

Criminal proceedings have been opened under Part 4 of Article 296 (hooliganism) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

Planned overhaul of financial management

Fedorov also announced a “deep audit” of both the defense ministry and the AFU to identify opportunities to improve financial management and social support for servicemen.

Formerly first deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation, Fedorov said the audit would be his immediate priority, citing a Hr.300 billion budget shortfall compared to last year.

“My first task is a real audit of defense ministry finances, to understand how we must function this year under significantly reduced funding,” he told the Rada.

He also pledged sweeping reforms to troop training and recruitment, arguing that better preparation would reduce battlefield losses and improve overall combat effectiveness.

The Verkhovna Rada appointed Fedorov as Ukraine’s new defense minister on Wednesday afternoon, with 277 lawmakers voting in favor of the decision.

Youngest defense minister

At 35, Fedorov becomes the youngest defense minister in Ukraine’s history. He entered government at just 28, when he was appointed minister for digital transformation, making him one of the youngest ministers ever to serve in the Ukrainian Cabinet.

A graduate of Yale School of Management, Fedorov led a far-reaching digital overhaul of Ukraine’s bureaucracy, moving most administrative services online and largely eliminating paper-based procedures and long queues.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he has also played a key role in drone procurement and the development of battlefield technologies.

He replaces former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who served as defense minister for only six months.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to “change the format” of the defense ministry, announcing Fedorov’s nomination for the post.

Considered one of Zelensky’s closest allies, Fedorov had previously been viewed as a leading candidate to replace Andriy Yermak, who resigned in late 2025, as head of the Presidential Office.

That position was ultimately filled by Kyrylo Budanov, the former head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR).