The army of the aggressor state of russia is facing increasing problems with its personnel: the number of people willing to leave the service and avoid death in the war waged against Ukraine is growing.

This is evidenced, in particular, by the sharp upsurge in registered criminal proceedings on bribery in the russian army.

For example, in the southern military district of the russian armed forces, the number of criminal cases opened for illegal dismissal for health reasons and illegal leave has tripled in five months of 2024.

Almost half of these proceedings are being investigated against the occupants of the 8th combined arms army of the russian federation. Another 36% are related to the 58th combined arms army of the aggressor state, whose commander was arrested on suspicion of corruption in the spring of this year.

More than a hundred proceedings opened against officials of military units of the southern military district of the russian federation concern bribery for granting leave from the combat zone. Among them are 38 cases – against members of the 102nd motorised rifle regiment (fighting in the area of Chasovyi Yar), 35 cases – concerning the 71st motorised rifle regiment (located on the border with Sumy region), 33 cases – regarding the 49th Brigade of the 49th Army.

Another 43 proceedings are investigating bribery for recognising the russian occupiers as having limited fitness.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine emphasises that the level of corruption in the russian army has always been high, but that such cases of bribery have not been noticed before.

The recording of the relevant episodes in the form of criminal cases may indicate an increase in the level of demoralisation of the occupation forces and a threatening tendency for moscow to escape from the russian army by any means.