Dozens of Ukrainian Soldiers Desert During Training in Germany

Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers have deserted while undergoing military training in Germany, according to a report by the German newspaper Die Zeit. In the state of Saxony Anhalt alone, at least 80 soldiers have fled their units since 2022. Some reports suggest that several hundred soldiers may have deserted across Germany, where approximately 29,000 Ukrainian service members have received training.

Interviews with deserters reveal a variety of motivations for fleeing. One soldier, Volodymyr Shulgin, reported being forcibly mobilized by a Territorial Recruitment Center patrol in January 2026. Shulgin alleged that after he fell ill during training at the Altengrabow military training ground, a sergeant struck him in the chest and ordered him to perform 50 squats. He further claimed that Ukrainian officers threatened to kill him and report him as missing after he informed a German doctor about the incident. Other deserters cited pacifist beliefs, a desire to reunite with family members in the European Union, or a wish to start over after serving prison sentences in Ukraine.

Legal options for these soldiers to remain in Germany are limited. While Ukrainian citizens fleeing the Russian invasion are generally granted residency, this rule does not apply to military deserters. In April 2026, authorities in Saxony Anhalt instructed immigration officials to reject such applications. The only remaining legal path is to apply for asylum by proving that returning to Ukraine would endanger their lives, though reports indicate the chances of success are slim. Deserters face up to 12 years in prison under Ukrainian law.

This trend is not isolated to Germany. In January, Agence France-Presse reported that several dozen members of the 155th Anne of Kyiv Mechanized Brigade deserted during training in France. Broader statistics cited by Die Zeit indicate that at least 60,000 service members have deserted from the Ukrainian army since February 2022, while the Ukrainian Defense Ministry states that more than 2 million men are currently evading conscription.