This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.
According to the Russian media group Mediazona, in March 2024, Russian courts handed down a record 684 verdicts for desertion. Since the "partial" mobilization began, the total number of cases is 7,400, with the Moscow region accounting for the highest number at 496.
Intelligence officers highlight that many wanted Russian soldiers, upon facing military court, receive suspended sentences, returning to their units and to the front lines. Meanwhile, the number of Russians seeking asylum in Western countries to evade military service has reached a record high.
Russian soldiers, including those forcibly recruited during the partial mobilization in September 2022, face indefinite military service with little hope of release, the statement noted.