The U.K. Defense Ministry said earlier in April that Russian troops in Ukraine are mainly staffed with contract soldiers and reservists mobilized in late 2022, but conscripts are often pressured to sign contracts.In the Russian 58th Combined Arms Army, the desertion rate is at around 2,500 troops, according to the agency's statement.Kyiv has been actively encouraging troops of the Russian invading army to desert or even defect to the Ukrainian side. The Ukrainian military intelligence service launched a hotline in September 2022 to help Russian soldiers willing to surrender.Media: Russian soldier charged for voluntary surrender for first time since mobilization introducedThere are few details known about the case, Mediazona reported, and the circumstances of his alleged surrender were not clarified. The soldier was also charged with desertion, the court file said.The Kyiv IndependentNate Ostiller