Ukraine estimates that approximately 200,000 of its soldiers are missing without leave (AWOL), meaning they have left their posts without official permission. At the same time, about 2 million Ukrainians are seeking to avoid military service.
Thiswas stated by the new Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, on Wednesday during a speech in the Ukrainian parliament before the vote on his appointment.
Under Ukrainian law, all men between the ages of 18 and 60 must register with the army, with mobilization applying to those between the ages of 25 and 60. Martial law also prohibits men of military age from leaving the country, yet tens of thousands of people have fled illegally.
Desertion is a criminal offense punishable by five to 12 years in prison in Ukraine. Evading mobilization is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years.
He wants to change the Soviet style of command
This is the first official acknowledgment of the extent of the problem by the Ukrainian authorities. The army has been under enormous pressure for a long time, as it faces a numerically and materially stronger Russian opponent.
According to Fedorov, the core of the problem is a critical shortage of personnel, which is most acute in the infantry. After almost four years of war, soldiers are exhausted and without sufficient breaks, leading to an increase in desertions.
Fedorov admitted that AWOL was often used in the past as an illegal way to transfer between units to circumvent lengthy bureaucracy, but the army has recently tightened this practice.
The minister also pointed to deep systemic problems: paper bureaucracy, Soviet-style hierarchical command, lack of resources, and poor assessment of commanders' abilities. "We cannot fight with modern technology and an old organizational structure," he said.
Fedorov, who is the youngest defense minister in Ukraine's history and previously served as minister of digital transformation, considers technology to be the key to reducing losses. He pointed out that there are currently 500 companies producing drones, 200 companies producing jamming devices, and more than 20 private rocket manufacturers operating in Ukraine.
"More robots mean fewer losses, more technology means fewer deaths. The lives of Ukrainian heroes are of the highest value," he said.
Zelensky wants changes in mobilization
After meeting with Fedorov, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that strengthening the technological component of the army will be one of the main priorities of the new defense minister.
He also highlighted the importance of air defense, as a "state of emergency" will be declared in the Ukrainian energy sector after continuous Russian attacks affecting heat and electricity supplies.
Zelensky agreed that "broader changes" to the mobilization system are needed, but did not specify what these would be. He announced that decisions have already been made to ensure a more equitable distribution of personnel among combat brigades. A decision to increase the salaries of soldiers on the front lines is also reportedly in the works.
(cnn, kyiv post, x, est)