At the end of 2024, two lists of alleged deserters appeared on the internet at once — in the Russian army they are called «five-hundreds». In December 2024, the Telegram channel «DNR Mobilization» published a file titled «SOUTH Military District Database 2024». The second source of data on deserters is the project of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine «I Want to Live».
«Important Stories» verified this data and found out that at least 49 thousand servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces have been declared deserters and absentees. This number almost matches the estimate of the Ukrainian OSINT community Frontelligence Insight — 50.5 thousand deserters. In March 2025, they published a slide that, as claimed, was used in an internal Ministry of Defense presentation on desertion.
As the publication notes, not all servicemen included in the leaked databases actually evaded service. This is evidenced by both public cases discovered by «Important Stories» and the data from the leak itself — over time, almost 300 people were recognized as killed, captured, or missing, according to the notes in the database.
According to the leaks, the main reasons for being declared wanted are leaving positions at the front, fleeing from the military unit's territory, and refusing to return to service after treatment. In some cases, the compilers of the databases provide additional details: «mother does not let him go, as she believes he has not fully recovered», «did not return from treatment, cat. D, heel detachment», «failed to provide documents in time for exclusion from the unit's lists», «did not return from treatment to the convalescent regiment», «broke leg in the morning before departure by train».
At least four servicemen, according to records in the database, «did not return from a business trip accompanying cargo 200». One of the notes explains the reason for refusing to fight as: «Fear for one's own life, consequences of the enemy's negative informational-psychological impact».
Almost 500 servicemen were declared absentees specifically after failing to return from leave. One of them has a comment: «Did not return from leave, using sick wife as an excuse».
Previously, journalists from «Mediazona»** discovered that at least 2850 people from the «SOUTH Military District» database were declared federally wanted in Russia. In some cases, being declared wanted and the initiation of a criminal case occurs even after servicemen transfer to another unit.
* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent» and «undesirable» organization.
** Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».