Surge in Russian Deserters, Kremlin Tries to Crack Down

The war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022 when Russia invaded its neighbour, has entered its twenty first month. The conflict has claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced millions of people. But the human cost is not only borne by Ukrainians. Many Russian soldiers, who were mobilised or coerced to fight in a war they did not want, are also suffering.

According to a Russian volunteer anti-war group, the number of Russian deserters has increased dramatically in recent months. The group, which helps soldiers flee the army and seek asylum in other countries, says it has received over 2,000 requests for assistance since the beginning of the war. Many of these soldiers say they were deceived by their commanders, who told them they were going on a training exercise or a peacekeeping mission, only to find themselves in a war zone.

Some of the deserters have spoken out about the horrors they witnessed and experienced in Ukraine. They describe indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, executions of prisoners of war and civilians, and torture and abuse by their own officers. They also express remorse and guilt for their role in the war, and apologise to the Ukrainian people.

But deserting the Russian army is not an easy task. The Kremlin has implemented harsh measures to prevent soldiers from escaping or surrendering. President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that doubles the punishment for desertion, refusal to fight, disobedience or surrender, from five to ten years in prison. The Russian army has also reportedly used “barrier troops” — units that shoot at their own soldiers who try to retreat or flee. Moreover, the Russian authorities have denied the existence of their troops in Ukraine, and have labelled the deserters as traitors and terrorists.

The Ukrainian government, on the other hand, has offered a different approach. President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to the Russian soldiers to surrender or defect, promising them humane treatment and protection from extradition. He has also said that Ukraine will exchange the captured Russian soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war, who are held by the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine has exposed the deep divisions and discontent within the Russian society and military. Many Russians oppose the war and the authoritarian regime of Putin, and some have even joined the Ukrainian side to fight against the invasion. The surge in Russian deserters is a sign of the growing resistance and dissatisfaction among the Russian soldiers, who are caught in a criminal war that they did not choose.