russian courts have received 20,538 cases of service personnel absent without leave (AWOL), desertion, or refused orders since February 2022 to late May 2025, the UK Defense Intelligence reports, citing a russian news outlet.
The majority of these cases, 18,159, or 88.4% were for AWOL, an offense under 337 of the Criminal Code, which now carries a 10 year prison sentence. Of these cases, 86.2% or 17,721 received a prosecution.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Reports on russia's Silent Casualties
There are a range of factors that can lead a soldier to desert. Brutal discipline in the Armed Forces of russia, poor medical treatment for injured soldiers and inadequate military training all likely contribute to russian service personnel going AWOL. A contract soldier could arrive at the front lines from within 14 days of signing a contract and receive only 5 days of vital military training.
This all runs counter to the official narrative that the russian leadership values the military service of those who fight in russia's illegal war in Ukraine. It is a realistic possibility that those prosecuted could commute their sentence by serving in russian Storm-Z convict assault units.
As Defense Express previously reported, on May 30, 2025, russian President Vladimir Putin approved the russian Navy Strategy and Development plan. According to Nikolai Patrushev, a presidential aide and head of the russian Maritime Board, which oversees shipbuilding, the plan reviews the current state of russia's naval capabilities, taking into consideration russia's experience in the war launched against Ukraine.
According to earlier reports by Defense Express, the current conflict between Israel and Iran presents russia with challenges and opportunities.
russia is under no formal obligation to provide Iran with any military assistance in its conflict with Israel. The russia-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in January 2025 covers cooperation across a range of areas, including defense and security, but does not include a mutual-defense clause. This is in contrast with russia's agreements with both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Belarus.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: Over Half of North Korean Troops Deployed to russia's Kursk Region Have Likely Become Casualties
