Ukraine's 53rd Brigade improves recruitment and AWOL returns
Ihor Mykhailenko, callsign Cherkas, commander of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh, told Radio NV that the brigade recorded up to 380 cases of soldiers going absent without leave (AWOL) per month when he took command in spring 2026.
We haven't written up this one. New Voice of Ukraine has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.