This article addresses a rarely discussed but critical issue: the mass unauthorized abandonment of military units in Ukraine. According to Ihor Lutsenko, more than 21,000 soldiers left the army in October alone, posing a grave threat not only to the military but to the state as a whole.
Key reasons include lack of motivation, unclear personal role in the army, uncertain service terms, insufficient pay, lack of regular rotations or leave, and the absence of justice in holding commanding officers accountable. Moral and physical exhaustion, as well as insufficient replenishment of personnel, increase the burden on each soldier and further erode morale.
A systemic management crisis leads to a vicious cycle of demotivation and desertion. This exacerbates frontline challenges and could lead to a collapse of Ukraine's defenses unless immediate reforms are implemented and the social standards for military personnel are improved. The author specifically encourages public and volunteer support for the army by donating funds for drones that are vital for defensive operations.
The speaker highlights that most of these problems can be resolved through organizational reforms, improvements in mobilization, rotation procedures, responsible leadership, and better social support for service members.
