According to data from People’s Goal (Pyi Thu Pann Tai), more than 2,578 military personnel, police officers, and militia members either became prisoners of war, defected, or surrendered within one year amid ongoing clashes between the Military Council’s forces and resistance groups across Myanmar.
The report details that in 2025, there were 945 soldiers, 30 police officers, and 64 militia members who defected, 157 soldiers who surrendered, and 1,231 soldiers, 16 police officers, and 135 militia members who were taken as prisoners of war.
Among those who became prisoners of war, defected, or surrendered, 961 were soldiers, most of whom were newly recruited troops who had recently completed—or were undergoing—military training, according to a data documentation officer from People’s Goal.
“About 80 percent are new recruits; these make up the majority of defectors we have recorded. Veteran soldiers are few. These figures only include defectors and prisoners of war. If we also account for those who were killed or went missing, the military has lost a significant number of personnel,” the officer said.
The officer added that many of the defecting soldiers had no desire to join the military but were forcibly conscripted, subjected to human rights violations, and endured harsh treatment during their training.
People’s Goal not only collects data on defectors, surrenders, and prisoners of war, but also provides livelihood and vocational training and, in cooperation with relevant organizations, delivers food and material assistance.
These programs are conducted not only in areas along the Thailand–Myanmar border but also in New Delhi, India, the organization reported.
Last year, many of the defectors, surrenders, and prisoners of war were able to apply the skills they learned in the training programs to earn a living through small-scale businesses, enabling them to sustain themselves independently.
“With each new training session, the number of defectors attending has gradually increased. We also provide them with safe homes and material support for food and basic needs. We do as much as we can to assist them,” the officer said.
Monthly data for 2025 shows that the largest number of defectors occurred in August (174 individuals), followed by July (109 individuals), June (100 individuals), and December (39 individuals).
Records from People’s Goal show that from the start of the 1027 military campaign up to 2024, nearly 7,000 individuals had defected, surrendered, or been captured as prisoners of war.
