Regarding the most updated numbers on desertions and draft evasion in Ukraine, the available sources, although not always official or converging, paint a picture of a crisis of enormous proportions and accelerating. Here are the main data that emerged.
Official figures (January 2026)
In January 2026, the new Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, publicly released for the first time official estimates on the gravity of the situation.
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Deserters and "AWOL" soldiers (Absent Without Leave): it is estimated that 200,000 soldiers have been reported absent without leave (AWOL).
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Draft evaders: about 2 million Ukrainians were wanted for evading the call to arms.
These numbers, already impressive in themselves, represent only the tip of the iceberg, as they include only the officially recorded and prosecuted cases.
A growing problem: 2026 data
The most recent data indicate that the phenomenon is far from being under control; rather, it is accelerating significantly.
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Trends in criminal proceedings: according to an analysis of judicial records cited by sources like Sputnik, in the first five months of 2026 (up to May 20), 47,098 criminal proceedings for abandonment of the combat position have been opened. This number already represents 59.5% of the total cases for the entire year 2025 and is an increase of 83.9% compared to the same period in 2025.
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Estimates on new deserters: other sources, citing the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, report that from the beginning of 2026 until May, about 70,000-80,000 military personnel have abandoned their units. This data, if confirmed, would bring the total number of deserters to exceed 250,000 units.