As many as 1,000 soldiers from the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division stationed in Volgograd deserted their unit, according to a report by journalists from *Important Stories*. The incident reflects broader challenges facing the Russian military during the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has now passed 1,000 days since the full-scale conflict began.
The Kremlin is actively searching for these soldiers. In April, the division’s command reportedly requested regional authorities' assistance to locate the deserters. However, Russia has not officially disclosed information about military desertions, prompting journalists to independently verify the data.
Their investigation confirmed that 1,010 soldiers had deserted, comprising 858 contract soldiers, 150 mobilized troops, and two conscripts. Among them were 26 junior officers, a major, and two lieutenant colonel. The names of some deserters were matched with the division’s spring 2022 roster, revealing that 31 individuals had been in service before the war, while the rest joined afterward.
Through interviews with families, deserters, and data from court rulings, further details emerged. Some soldiers claimed they left the unit to care for ill relatives or manage household responsibilities. Others sought refuge after losing family members or simply disappeared.
A few openly admitted they no longer wanted to fight, citing collaboration with anti-war human rights organizations. While some deserters returned voluntarily or after committing minor offenses to avoid severe punishment, others remained at home, living openly without immediate consequences.
Court records uncovered the cases of 96 soldiers who left their unit but justified their actions with personal reasons. Journalists identified 26 of the deserters on the federal wanted list published by *Mediazona*. Some deserters had more dramatic stories: one soldier, injured in the conflict, fled and is now seeking asylum in Europe.
The report highlights the toll the prolonged war has taken on Russian soldiers, both physically and psychologically. It also underscores the growing resistance within the ranks, despite strict penalties for desertion. While some return voluntarily, many continue to evade the military, exposing cracks in Russia's ability to sustain its war effort.
With all due respect to you all, the UK has 200,000 registered deserters from the Ukraine, also there are many Ukrainians seeking political asylum from Zelensky's far right regime. 1,000 Russian soldiers is a very low number, there very few Russians have fled to the UK to escape PUTIN.
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