In Germany, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers left the training ground
Since 2022, more than 80 Ukrainian servicemembers have left the training site at the Altengrabow training ground in Germany without authorization. According to German media reports, there have already been hundreds of such cases across the country, though Berlin does not publish official nationwide statistics.
The German publication Hasepost reports on the number of soldiers who have left the training program. The report focuses on the Altengrabov training ground in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, where Ukrainian servicemen are undergoing training. According to journalists, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers have fled from there since 2022. At the same time, these figures pertain to only one training facility. According to the authors of the article, hundreds of such cases have already been recorded throughout Germany.
Most of the soldiers mentioned in the article, according to Hasepost, were mobilized in Ukraine. After arriving in Germany, they underwent military training, but some of them took the opportunity to leave their deployment locations. The German Ministry of Defense confirms isolated cases of Ukrainian soldiers leaving their posts without authorization. However, the ministry does not publish comprehensive statistics on such incidents nationwide.
Why Soldiers Find Themselves in a Complex Legal Situation
Once a service member leaves the training site, the question arises regarding their future status in Germany. They cannot automatically enjoy the same protection as Ukrainian civilians who have fled due to the full-scale war. In particular, military personnel officially sent by Ukraine to Germany for training do not fall under the scope of Section 24 of the German Residence Act on the same grounds as Ukrainian refugees.
As a result, some of these individuals are applying for asylum through the general procedure. The mere fact of desertion does not automatically grant asylum, and the chances of a positive decision in such cases are assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, the procedure itself can be lengthy. According to Hasepost, the review of an application and any potential appeals can take more than a year. This creates an additional legal problem, as the issue of a possible extradition to Ukraine may effectively be blocked while the case is pending.
How Many Ukrainian Soldiers Have Undergone Training
Germany has become one of Ukraine’s key partners in training military personnel since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to the publication, since February 2022, approximately 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers have completed multi-week military training in Germany. The training took place at about 60 training grounds and other military facilities.
Ukrainian soldiers in Germany are mastering various specialties and working with Western military equipment. In the early stages of the full-scale war, journalists report that it was primarily experienced service members who came to Germany for training, specifically to operate tanks and howitzers. The situation has since changed. As Hasepost reports, people with little military experience are increasingly being sent for training.
This is because it is becoming increasingly difficult for Ukraine to replenish its army with volunteers. Due to the prolonged war, the need for military personnel remains high, so more mobilized citizens who previously had no combat experience are joining the ranks.
What Penalties Do Soldiers Face in Ukraine
In Ukraine, leaving a military unit without permission and desertion during martial law carry criminal consequences. Specifically, desertion is punishable under Article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to the data cited in the article, the punishment for desertion under martial law can range from five to 12 years of imprisonment.
At the same time, each specific situation must be assessed individually. Unauthorized absence from duty and desertion are distinct legal concepts, and the final legal classification is determined by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and the courts. Thus, cases of fleeing military training exercises in Germany involve a relatively small proportion of Ukrainian service members who were undergoing training abroad. At the same time, it is currently difficult to determine the exact scale of the problem nationwide, as the German Ministry of Defense does not publish general official statistics. This is reported by Hasepost.
A new research center is opening in Germany that will focus on drone technology and countermeasures against drones. The facility is located in Kochstedt, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, near Magdeburg.
