Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers deserted in Germany since 2022
Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have deserted from military training exercises in Germany since 2022, with at least 80 cases reported in Saxony-Anhalt alone. Many were forcibly mobilized and reportedly fled due to abuse, fear of returning to combat, or desire to reunite with families in Europe.
Consensus
- Since 2022, several hundred Ukrainian military personnel have deserted from training exercises in Germany.
- At least 80 such cases were reported in the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.
- Ukrainian law classifies these individuals as deserters, punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
- These soldiers were not voluntary recruits but often conscripted through mobilization.
- The training in Germany included combat exercises with tanks and howitzers.
- Approximately 29,000 Ukrainian military personnel have undergone training in Germany since February 2022.
- Ukrainian soldiers undergoing training in Germany are not covered by Germany’s temporary protection clause (paragraph 24).
- German authorities do not grant asylum or residence permits to deserters from the Ukrainian military.
- Regional authorities in Saxony-Anhalt have instructed immigration officials to automatically reject asylum applications from Ukrainian deserters.
Points of divergence
- One deserter, Vladimir Shulgin, was a pianist and Bible study group organizer before being forcibly mobilized; he fled after being physically assaulted by a sergeant and threatened with being buried alive. — meduza
- Some deserters were motivated by a desire to start a new life, including one who had served 15 years in prison for murder. — vm
- A total of 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted since the start of the Russian invasion, and over 250,000 are facing legal proceedings. — novaya_eu
- The German Ministry of Defense confirmed individual cases of desertion but does not maintain a national count. — vedomosti
- The German government is considering requiring all Ukrainian refugees to prove they are not evading military service to receive temporary protection. — kommerant
Coverage (8 sources)
- Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers deserted in Germany since 2022, writes Die Zeit — DW Главное
- Die Zeit learned about the escape of hundreds of Ukrainian military personnel from exercises in Germany since 2022 — Коммерсантъ
- Die Zeit: Hundreds of Ukrainians deserted after training in Germany — Вечерняя Москва
- Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers deserted in Germany since 2022 — Вести
- Zeit: Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers fled from ranges in Germany — Ведомости
- Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers fled exercises in Germany, says Die Zeit newspaper. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- I just don't want to die and I don't want to kill. Isn't that enough? Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers desert during training in Germany, writes Die Zeit — Meduza
- More than 80 Ukrainian military personnel deserted during military exercises in German Saxony-Anhalt — Новая газета Европа