Germany has confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers fled from military exercises
The German Ministry of Defense has confirmed that Ukrainian servicemembers did indeed leave their training and did not return to their units. At the same time, the German ministry emphasizes that these are “isolated cases” and not the hundreds of desertions previously reported by the German media.
The German Federal Ministry of Defense reported that it has information about cases of desertion by Ukrainian soldiers while undergoing training in Germany. This was stated by a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr’s Special Training Command in Strausberg, near Berlin. He provided this response to an inquiry from the German news outlet ntv.
“The Federal Ministry of Defense has information about isolated cases of desertion by servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during their training in Germany.”
However, the German ministry did not specify the exact number of such cases. Nor did it specify when exactly the soldiers left the training centers or under what circumstances this occurred. In other words, Berlin confirmed the fact of desertion itself, but the German Ministry of Defense has not yet confirmed the scale previously reported by some media outlets.
The Bundeswehr Is Not Searching for Ukrainian Deserters
The German Ministry of Defense also explained that the Bundeswehr is not involved in searching for Ukrainian servicemembers who left their training. According to the spokesperson, the issue of desertion by Ukrainian military personnel is an internal matter for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, the German side recommended contacting Ukrainian authorities for further information.
This means that Germany is responsible for organizing and conducting military training, but matters regarding the continued service of Ukrainian soldiers after their training fall under Ukraine’s jurisdiction.
Where Did the Figures on Hundreds of Cases Come From?
Prior to the statement by the German Ministry of Defense, local media reported a significantly higher number of cases. In particular, the publication Hasepost reported that in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers may have left their training since 2022. According to journalists, the number of such cases across Germany could have reached several hundred.
At the same time, these figures have not been confirmed by the German Federal Ministry of Defense. On the contrary, an official spokesperson for the ministry used the phrase “isolated cases.” Therefore, it is important to distinguish between two things: Germany has confirmed the fact of desertion itself, but has not confirmed the hundreds of cases previously reported.
How many Ukrainian soldiers have undergone training
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Germany became one of the main training centers for Ukrainian military personnel. According to the data provided, nearly 30,000 Ukrainian servicemembers have undergone training in Germany since February 2022. The training lasted from a few weeks and covered various areas of military training.
After completing the courses, the vast majority of soldiers returned to Ukraine and continued their service. According to German media reports, some soldiers did not return to their units. However, the exact number of such cases remains unknown. There is currently no official figure to confirm reports of hundreds of desertions.
Penalties for Desertion
Under Ukrainian law, desertion is a criminal offense. It refers to the unauthorized abandonment of a military unit or place of service with the intent to evade military service. Under martial law, desertion is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. The final sentence is determined by a court based on the specific circumstances of the case.
At the same time, the mere fact that a soldier did not return from training in Germany does not automatically mean that the court has found him guilty. For that to happen, appropriate checks and investigative actions must be carried out, and the final decision is made by the court. Thus, the German Ministry of Defense has effectively confirmed reports that some Ukrainian servicemembers left their training in Germany. However, claims of hundreds of such cases nationwide have not yet been officially confirmed. This was reported by ntv.
About 80 Ukrainian servicemen may have deserted during training exercises in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Across Germany, the number of such cases could reach the hundreds.
