As the war in Ukraine continues, Ukrainian soldiers are receiving military training in Germany. A recent investigation by the weekly publication “Die Zeit” has uncovered that some of these soldiers do not return to their units after their stay in Germany.
In Saxony-Anhalt, the Ministry of the Interior is aware of approximately 80 cases, and nationwide estimates suggest that hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers desert after completing their military training in Germany, as reported by Euronews.
The German federal government has not yet released any official statistics on this issue, and confirmed figures from other federal states are currently unavailable.
Since the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, about 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers have undergone training in Germany, according to the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces).
The military training occurs in various locations where soldiers learn to handle weapons, camouflage techniques, and basic first aid. After completing the course, they are normally expected to return to Ukraine and be deployed there.
For those who do not return, desertion can have legal consequences: leaving a unit without permission could be considered desertion, which may lead to a prison sentence of several years.
Additionally, questions arise regarding the status of these individuals during their stay in Germany. Generally, the simplified residency status for Ukrainian war refugees does not automatically apply to soldiers sent from Ukraine to Germany for military training.
Low Chances of Asylum in Germany
Some soldiers might attempt to remain in Germany by applying for asylum.
In June, Euronews reported that EU member states agreed in Brussels to exclude men of conscription age from a program that grants automatic protection rights within the community bloc. This decision was made at the request of the Ukrainian government.
According to this agreement, only those who have completed their military service in Ukraine or are exempt from it will benefit from the simplified admission rules under the protection program.
This was announced by the Council of EU member states. Moving forward, individuals will need a stamp in their passport or an official certificate proving that their departure from Ukraine was legal or that they are exempt from military service.
