Russian troops deserting en masse in occupied Kherson region
Photo: The number of deserters in the Russian army is growing (Getty Images)
The 205th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, stationed in the Prydniprovskyi direction in the temporarily occupied Kherson region, has seen widespread cases of desertion among its soldiers, according to the ATESH partisan movement.
According to a movement agent, mass desertions in the brigade have been recorded due to commanders' abuse of power: group beatings, threats of being sent on one-way missions, and round-the-clock duty shifts that deprive soldiers of rest.
Additionally, military personnel have gone for months without receiving payments.
"Soldiers, unwilling to tolerate such treatment, are abandoning their positions. Some, through their relatives, have sought help from human rights organizations, but so far, there has been no response. Such cases are not uncommon in the enemy's army, but in the 205th Brigade, they have become widespread," the statement reads.
Deserters in Russia's war against Ukraine
According to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), mass desertions in the Russian army are linked to poor treatment by the command and the inability to provide soldiers with sufficient weapons.
Meanwhile, North Korean military deserters are seeking to join the Ukrainian forces.
