A Myanmar military officer who surrendered to an ethnic minority armed group has told NHK the military is struggling to maintain control as troop morale sinks. The ruling junta has been facing escalating clashes with ethnic minority militants and others.

Militants from three minority groups launched joint attacks against junta forces in the eastern state of Shan on October 27. The militants are stepping up their offensives in cooperation with pro-democracy forces.

Myanmar's military is now on the defensive across the country for the first time since it seized power in a coup in 2021.

The pro-democracy National Unity Government says 541 junta soldiers had surrendered as of November 29.

The military officer who gave himself up to an ethnic armed group called the Karen National Union in the southeastern state of Karen spoke to NHK under supervision of the group.

The officer said he surrendered along with 20 lower ranking soldiers after coming under attack for two and a half days, while guarding a bridge last month.

He said he lost 25 of his 53 subordinates in the attack. He said he and some others are lucky to be alive, and they had no choice but to surrender.

The officer said he chose to give up to protect himself and he feels no regret about his decision. He added it is time for other soldiers to act on their own behalf.

The officer said the military's top general Min Aung Hlaing is losing his way. He said no one in the military continues to believe in the general's leadership.

He said there are no longer any soldiers or staff in the military who have faith in him as they did before.

It appears junta soldiers who surrender are allowed to live relatively freely. But footage taken by ethnic minority forces show troops being forced to line up in front of a bridge, and to pay tribute to those killed by the military.

The high reported number of surrendering soldiers is unusual. They are believed to live communally in military facilities with their families, and are exposed to mutual surveillance and indoctrination by superiors, so they are unable to disobey orders.

A military spokesperson said through state-run media on Monday that if soldiers who have gone missing from the military return, they will be allowed to return to military duty.

The comment suggests there is a shortage of military personnel.