Desertion is flourishing in the armed formations of the southern military district of the russian occupying army.

In total, more than 18,000 russian servicemen have left the service in the combat units of the district without permission.

The vast majority ― about 12,000 fugitives ― falls on the 8th combined arms army of the russian federation, which is constantly involved in hostilities in eastern Ukraine. Approximately 10,000 of them were drafted by moscow through mobilisation. The remaining 2,000 are contract soldiers.

In the 58th combined arms army, which is also part of the southern district of the aggressor state’s army, the desertion rate is about 2,500 people.