Now toward 2000, I don't see it being too far fetch. One has to remember that by 2000 many of the troops in units would come from limited number locales. In many units the limited number of recruits tend to desert... So no I don't think it would be unrealistic
At the out set of the war I don't see many units defecting due to the fact that they had good mix in the units to prevent this. The 2nd formation of many units, would be a mix bag, depending on how fast they were rushed to get troops to the front lines. Depending on how things get stress out in the Soviet Union, especially if you use V1 where the Soviets and China went to war. With the way thing went south in hurry, I don't see the Soviet worrying too much with the reserve and mobilize units getting mix so they don't rebel, but to get units who have common language that they understand and get them to the front to fight. Odds were with the meat grinder China was, the division would be consolidated with other units in short term.
With many of the Soviet units recruiting local or nearby in Soviet Republics it doesn't surprise me that entire units are defecting. Beside in many cases it is the Commander who decided to defect the unit. Many of the of the troops that serve under only follow order because they in their eyes he looking out for their best interest. The units who had soldier who felt they couldn't trust the command group, simply killed them off and various sub units went their own individual ways...
But has been pointed out, the Soviets had unit mix ration low so no one ethnic group was too large in any units. They also had a habit of moving the troops from the East to western district and in the other direction so to prevent any troop feeling loyalty at one time.
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