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Desertion Crisis Weakens Ukrainian Army Amid Ongoing War with Russia
KYIV: More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been charged under desertion laws since the Russian invasion in 2022, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. The mounting issue of troops abandoning their posts is exacerbating challenges for Ukraine’s military as it fights to reclaim and defend territory.
Desertion has left significant gaps in manpower at the front lines, military officials say, compromising defensive strategies and accelerating territorial losses. Entire units have reportedly walked away from combat zones, with some soldiers citing trauma, exhaustion, and frustration over bleak prospects for victory.
“This problem is critical,” said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kyiv-based military analyst. “This is the third year of war, and it will only grow.”
Deeply Rooted Challenges
The desertions highlight systemic problems within Ukraine’s military structure, including inadequate troop rotations, insufficient psychological support, and the pressures of an aggressive mobilisation campaign.
Nearly half of the deserters were reported in the past year, following a controversial mobilisation drive aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s fighting force. However, officials acknowledge the program has struggled to meet its goals, with an estimated 4,000 troops missing from the front lines in September alone due to injuries, deaths, and desertions.
Some soldiers, haunted by the traumas of war, fail to return after medical leave. Others defy orders during active engagements, leaving defensive positions exposed. Such incidents contributed to the loss of Vuhledar, a hilltop town Ukraine had defended for two years, in October.
“The percentage of deserters has grown exponentially every month,” said an officer from the 72nd Brigade, which suffered significant losses in Vuhledar due to desertions.
Psychological and Emotional Toll
Soldiers describe the relentless psychological strain of war. One deserter, who left his unit after medical leave, recounted the horrors of witnessing friends killed under heavy fire.
“You realize that any second, it can happen to you,” he said.
Another soldier, Serhii Hnezdilov, publicly announced his desertion after five years of service, citing broken promises of demobilisation. “Without an end term, military service turns into a prison,” he said.
Balancing Justice and Compassion
Military prosecutors and commanders reportedly prefer not to press charges against deserters, opting instead to persuade them to return. However, the State Investigative Bureau has pursued cases when soldiers repeatedly go AWOL.
Defense attorneys argue that psychological conditions often drive desertion. “Almost no healthy people are left in the infantry,” said attorney Tetyana Ivanova.
While the Ukrainian General Staff has promised psychological support for soldiers, many feel it is insufficient. The ongoing crisis underscores the human cost of prolonged conflict and the urgent need for systemic reforms to support Ukraine’s military forces.
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Russia Demands SWIFT Reconnection as Condition to Revive Black Sea Initiative
Russia has set forth a key demand for the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative—reconnecting its Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT financial system. This request, which falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU), comes amid ongoing negotiations between global powers on the war in Ukraine.
Partial Ceasefire and Black Sea Security Agreement
Following recent talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a partial ceasefire specifically covering energy facilities. While this fell short of the broader ceasefire pushed by former President Donald Trump, the parties also agreed on measures to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels in the Black Sea and to prevent their use for military purposes.
However, the Kremlin quickly detailed additional conditions, demanding the lifting of sanctions on food exports, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and cargo insurance. Most notably, Russia is insisting that Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in agricultural trade be reinstated on SWIFT, a global messaging system that facilitates secure financial transactions.
EU’s Role and Sanctions History
SWIFT, headquartered in Belgium, falls under EU regulations. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU removed several Russian banks from SWIFT in 2022, including Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Rosselkhozbank. The exclusion was a significant blow to Russia’s financial system, as it restricted the country’s ability to conduct international transactions.
Rosselkhozbank, a state-owned institution, plays a critical role in facilitating payments for Russia’s agricultural exports, a major revenue source through the global sale of wheat, barley, and corn. While the EU has not directly sanctioned Russian agricultural exports, the banking restrictions have complicated payments for these transactions, leading to the collapse of the initial Black Sea Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.
Diplomatic Tensions and Uncertain Outcomes
The demand to reinstate Rosselkhozbank puts the EU in a difficult position. Granting this request could signal a willingness to make concessions, potentially encouraging Russia to seek further sanctions relief. However, refusing it could provoke tensions with the Trump administration, which is eager to secure a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed easing sanctions, arguing that they must remain in place until Russia ends its military aggression. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this stance, stating that sanctions would only be lifted after Russia takes concrete steps toward peace.
As EU sanctions require unanimous renewal every six months, any member state could disrupt the process. Hungary, which has previously expressed opposition to sanctions, could leverage this situation to push for changes when restrictions are up for review on July 31.
Future of SWIFT and Global Financial Pressures
While the EU holds the power to reinstate Rosselkhozbank’s SWIFT access, the U.S. could signal leniency by ensuring that those engaging with the bank avoid legal repercussions. Analysts suggest that Russia’s demand may be a strategic move to test both Washington and Brussels, pressuring the EU to reconsider its stance on financial restrictions.
For now, the EU remains firm in its approach. France has indicated that sanctions should remain unless Russia agrees to a full ceasefire, reparations, and security guarantees for Ukraine. However, with negotiations ongoing and international pressure mounting, the debate over SWIFT and broader sanctions relief is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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