Frankfurt (Germany), 20 August (LaPresse) – They were sent to Germany for training before returning to fight in Ukraine, but many Ukrainian soldiers are said to have taken advantage of their stay to desert. This is according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit, as reported by Bild, which states that there are hundreds of such cases nationwide. In the state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, the Ministry of the Interior has reported around 80 cases. According to Die Zeit, the Bundeswehr is currently training Ukrainian soldiers at around 60 facilities across Germany. The programmes include shooting drills, camouflage, first aid and other basic skills, similar to those provided for German recruits. Since 2022, around 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers are said to have completed a training period in Germany. Not all of them, however, are said to have returned to Ukraine. The German Ministry of Defence confirmed to *Die Zeit* that some Ukrainian soldiers “left” the facilities without authorisation, whilst pointing out, however, that it did not have an overall figure at national level. In Saxony-Anhalt, among the approximately 80 cases reported by the Ministry of the Interior, there was one involving a soldier who fled the Altengrabow training ground. As Die Zeit points out, under Ukrainian law, unauthorised absence from one’s unit may constitute the offence of desertion, punishable, if convicted, by years in prison. It is, however, unlikely that the soldiers who have left the service will face trial in Ukraine. Furthermore, deserters cannot automatically rely on the simplified residence rules provided by Germany for Ukrainian refugees. These provisions apply, in fact, to people forced to leave the country due to the Russian invasion, and not to military personnel sent to Germany for training. However, the option to apply for asylum remains. Those concerned would need to demonstrate credibly that, should they return to Ukraine, they would risk their lives or physical safety, or face persecution on political grounds. The chances of being granted protection are considered limited, but the procedure could still allow them to remain in Germany temporarily: according to *Zeit*, an asylum procedure takes on average around a year and often even longer. According to the German newspaper, there are therefore hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who, having defected to Germany, hope to be able to remain in the country through the asylum procedure.
Ukraine: hundreds of soldiers desert after training in Germany
Frankfurt (Germany), 20 August (LaPresse) – They were sent to Germany for training before returning to fight in Ukraine, but many Ukrainian soldiers are said to have taken advantage of their stay to desert. This is according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit, as reported by Bild, which states that there are hundreds of such cases nationwide. In the state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, the Ministry of the Interior has reported around 80 cases. According to Die Zeit, the Bundeswehr is currently training Ukrainian soldiers at around 60 facilities across Germany. The programmes include shooting drills, camouflage, first aid and other basic skills, similar to those provided for German recruits. Since 2022, around 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers are said to have completed a training period in Germany. Not all of them, however, are said to have returned to Ukraine. The German Ministry of Defence confirmed to *Die Zeit* that some Ukrainian soldiers “left” the facilities without authorisation, whilst pointing out, however, that it did not have an overall figure at national level. In Saxony-Anhalt, among the approximately 80 cases reported by the Ministry of the Interior, there was one involving a soldier who fled the Altengrabow training ground. As Die Zeit points out, under Ukrainian law, unauthorised absence from one’s unit may constitute the offence of desertion, punishable, if convicted, by years in prison. It is, however, unlikely that the soldiers who have left the service will face trial in Ukraine. Furthermore, deserters cannot automatically rely on the simplified residence rules provided by Germany for Ukrainian refugees. These provisions apply, in fact, to people forced to leave the country due to the Russian invasion, and not to military personnel sent to Germany for training. However, the option to apply for asylum remains. Those concerned would need to demonstrate credibly that, should they return to Ukraine, they would risk their lives or physical safety, or face persecution on political grounds. The chances of being granted protection are considered limited, but the procedure could still allow them to remain in Germany temporarily: according to *Zeit*, an asylum procedure takes on average around a year and often even longer. According to the German newspaper, there are therefore hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who, having defected to Germany, hope to be able to remain in the country through the asylum procedure.