Russian Military Faces Surge in Desertions, Internal Documents Reveal
Kyiv, ukraine – Desertions within the Russian army have skyrocketed, increasing sixfold from the begining of 2025, according to internal Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) documents analyzed by Frontelligence Insight and corroborated by the Telegram channel “Crucial Stories.” The escalating rate of soldiers abandoning their posts signals a deepening crisis within the Russian military as its war in Ukraine continues.
The data reveals a total of at least 49,000 desertions by the end of 2024, with 50.5 thousand documented in the MoD presentation. A recent analysis of 13,800 documented cases shows the majority – 11,300 – are contract soldiers,while 2,400 are mobilized personnel,with a small number being recruits. The 30th Brigade exhibits a particularly high rate of desertion, with 73.6% of cases involving contract soldiers and 22.1% involving prisoners.
This shift in deserters represents a change from earlier in the conflict, when escapes primarily occurred from military bases. Now, soldiers are increasingly deserting from the front lines or failing to return from hospital treatment. The average age of a deserter is 37, with the 35-44 and 25-34 age groups most represented, likely mirroring the demographic structure of the Russian army.
Russian authorities are employing a range of measures to combat desertion, including court-martial proceedings and, in some units, resorting to torture and staged “real-life” scenarios. Though, the effectiveness of these measures varies substantially. The 144th separate motorcycle brigade,for example,managed to detain and return over 1,100 of 1,400 deserters between March 2022 and march 2025,but 256 remain at large.
Despite these efforts, the number of desertions continues to climb. Analysts at Frontelligence Insight emphasize that while the situation hasn’t yet reached a “crisis level,” the increasing rate, even in the face of severe punishment, points to a important and growing problem within the Russian armed forces, potentially impacting their operational capabilities and morale.
