Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers deserted during training exercises in Germany

Several hundred Ukrainian military personnel have gone absent without leave during training exercises on German territory since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

This was reported by the German newspaper Die Zeit.

According to the publication, in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers undergoing training for participation in the war have fled from military training grounds since 2022.

Under Ukrainian law, these men are considered deserters. At home, they face up to 12 years in prison.

“Many of the deserters in Ukraine did not join the army voluntarily; they were mobilized by conscription. When they were sent to the Altengrabow military training ground in Saxony-Anhalt for training, they took the opportunity to flee,” Die Zeit notes.

The publication also cites a specific case: fifteen out of fifty mobilized soldiers left the training ground immediately before being sent to Poland.