The authorities in Kiev have struggled to deal with widespread draft evasion throughout the conflict with Russia
At least 650,000 Ukrainian men of fighting age have fled the country since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, The Telegraph reported on Thursday. Others are hiding inside Ukraine or bribing officials to avoid being sent to the front, as the military faces its worst manpower crisis, the newspaper wrote.
According to the report, draft evasion in Ukraine is “tipping into crisis” amid Russian advances in the Donetsk region. Earlier this week, DeepState, a monitoring group with ties to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, described the situation as “chaotic” with Russian troops “accumulating forces for further advancement.”
Kiev’s general mobilization, which mandates all able-bodied men aged 25 to 60 to serve in the armed forces, has failed to make up for ongoing battlefield losses and has led Ukrainian commanders to voice concerns over persistent manpower shortages.
Desertions are rising sharply, Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod said last week, adding that almost 400,000 Ukrainian servicemen have abandoned their units without authorization, and many – including volunteers – have no plans to return due to abysmal treatment from superiors.
Ukraine is “visibly losing the war,” The Telegraph wrote, citing military analyst Konrad Muzyka, who pointed to infantry shortages and the declining effectiveness of its drone operations.
Many Ukrainians are avoiding conscription out of fear, the newspaper added. As troop numbers dwindle, even support personnel such as mechanics and radar operators are being reassigned to infantry roles, according to one draft evader in hiding, who said every new recruit is sent directly to the front line.
Widespread videos on social media show Ukrainian draft officers employing forceful and sometimes violent tactics – chasing men, dragging them into unmarked vans, and assaulting both those targeted and nearby civilians. This has led to growing public outrage over what is now widely known as “busification.”
In response, many potential recruits have attempted to escape the country by crossing treacherous terrain or rivers, often with fatal consequences. Ukrainian border guards have intercepted thousands of such attempts and, in some cases, have used firearms against fleeing individuals.
