Ukraine Reports 200,000 Soldiers Have Gone AWOL

Ukraine estimates that 200,000 of its soldiers are absent without official leave (AWOL), meaning they have left their positions without permission to do so, the country’s new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov revealed on Wednesday. 

Speaking in the Ukrainian Parliament ahead of the vote that confirmed him as the new defense chief, Fedorov also said some 2 million Ukrainians are “wanted” for avoiding military service. 

The Ukrainian military have been under strain for years as they try to defend the country against a much bigger and stronger Russia. Conditions along the frontline have been brutal, with Kiev’s troops often trying to hold onto key positions even as they find themselves outmanned and outgunned. 

Stories of low morale and high desertion rates have been swirling around for a long time, but Fedorov’s comments mark the first time any Ukrainian official has disclosed the scale of the problem. 

Under Ukrainian law, all men between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to register with the military and always have their documents on them, although only those aged 25 to 60 are subject to mobilization. 

Ukraine’s martial law bars all men aged 23 to 60 who are eligible for military military service from leaving the country, but tens of thousands have fled illegally. 

Given Ukraine’s manpower problems, Fedorov (left) acknowledged that strengthening the technological component of the military has become one of his priorities.

“More robots means fewer losses, more technology means fewer deaths. The lives of Ukrainian heroes are of the highest value”, he reiterated.

It has been reported that there were now 500 Ukrainian companies producing drones, 200 businesses making jamming equipment and over 20 privately-owned missiles producers.

Yesterday, world No. 2 Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan confidently took the court and powered past Taiwan's Hsieh Pei Shan-Hung En Tzu to reach the India Open semi-finals – their third appearance in the last four editions of the Super 750 tournament. 

The Malaysians were in complete control against the world No. 9 pair, sealing a 21-16, 21-10 win in just 32 minutes. 

Pearly-Thinaah head into the last-four clash today with a clear mission, with Japan's world No. 6 Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto standing in their way. And they have a score to settle after losing twice to the Japanese duo – in the group stage and semi-finals – at last month's World Tour Finals.