Many Russian soldiers prefer prison to frontline, but military increasingly returns them to war

According to a joint investigation by Meduza and the organization Peace Plea, more than 28,000 Russian soldiers had been convicted of unauthorized absence from their units (known as SOCh) as of May 2025. In late June 2026, authorities in the Belgorod region declared 13 people wanted after they fled almost simultaneously.

Soldiers who go AWOL—colloquially called "sochintsy"—are often caught, and the roundups can even put their relatives at risk. One possible outcome is a prison sentence, which at least secures the soldier's discharge from service. However, in recent years, authorities have generally tried to return detainees to the war.

The article provides a legal guide for mobilized and contract soldiers considering leaving their units. The first two days after leaving are not yet treated as a crime, but after that a criminal case can be opened. Absence for more than a month carries penalties of up to 10 years in a general-regime penal colony under Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code, while desertion during mobilization can lead to up to 15 years in a maximum-security colony under Article 338.

According to Peace Plea, the number of forced deployments to the front—including to assault units—has risen significantly since 2024. The organization offers free consultations to Russian soldiers who do not want to fight, helping them assess alternatives such as medical discharge or the best way to turn themselves in to military investigative authorities.