Over 49,000 Russian soldiers have deserted over 3 years of full-scale war

Ukraine’s National Resistance Center (NRC) reported the information.

“Because many militants are deserting from the so-called ‘special military operation,’ the security situation in the temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine is getting worse quickly. According to the National Resistance Center, more than 49,000 Russian soldiers have deserted since the full-scale invasion began,” NRC says.

The report highlights that this number is equal to several full divisions of soldiers.

NRC adds that most Russians who left their units without permission don’t go back to Russia but hide in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

“Most of these criminals are staying in the occupied areas and are a real danger to the local people. Robberies, beatings, rapes, and murders — crimes that the occupiers try to hide or blame on civilians — have become common,” NRC says.