Nearly 200 Myanmar military personnel have surrendered to or been captured by resistance forces within the first three weeks of February, according to data released by the advocacy group People’s Goal.
The group reported a total of 191 individuals—comprising both defectors and prisoners of war—between the first and third weeks of the month. The figures show a significant spike in the second week of February, which saw 125 personnel neutralized, compared to 21 in the first week and 45 in the third.
The rise in defections comes amid a backdrop of stalled political solutions and escalating violence. People’s Goal noted that the military junta’s recent “sham elections” failed to gain international recognition or bring peace to any part of the country.
“There is no sign of peace on the horizon,” the group stated, adding that the military leadership’s nationwide bombing campaign is only intensifying the revolution. “For frontline soldiers, the prospect of returning home is fading, and survival is becoming increasingly difficult. We advise them to join the people’s side whenever the opportunity arises”.
A significant portion of those defecting are reported to be new conscripts brought in under the national military service law. In the third week of February alone, 21 out of 45 personnel were defectors, most of whom were new recruits.
“The highest casualties in battles are among these inexperienced conscripts, and they are also the most likely to defect,” a CDM officer based on the border told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA). He added that these recruits often face intense surveillance and discrimination within the military due to fears they will flee at the first opportunity. “I urge revolutionary groups to work together to facilitate the defection of these young men who were forced into the army against their will”.
According to records maintained by People’s Goal, a total of 2,948 junta personnel—including defectors, those who surrendered, and prisoners of war—have been accounted for between January 2025 and the third week of February 2026.
