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Ukrainian soldiers desert during military training in Germany
Investigations by the German newspaper ‘Die Zeit’ reveal that hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly deserted during military training in Germany. In the state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, authorities are aware of approximately 80 cases since 2022.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, roughly 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers have undergone training in Germany, learning skills such as handling heavy weaponry and first aid. While early trainees were often highly motivated and experienced, reports suggest that more recent recruits are increasingly inexperienced and have been forcibly conscripted.
Under Ukrainian law, these individuals are considered deserters and face potential imprisonment of up to twelve years. Their legal status in Germany is complex; unlike civilian refugees, soldiers sent by their government for training do not automatically qualify for protection under Paragraph 24 of the German Residence Act. Some deserters are reportedly attempting to seek asylum in Germany to avoid returning to the front lines.
Entities
Altengrabow · Bundeswehr · Die Zeit · Germany · Saxony-Anhalt · Ukraine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] More than 80 Ukrainian soldiers have fled from their training grounds in Saxony-Anhalt alone since 2022. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de · eestinen.fi · www.news20.ro · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Ukrainian soldiers who desert face up to twelve years of imprisonment under Ukrainian law. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de · eestinen.fi · www.news20.ro · +8 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Soldiers sent to Germany by their government do not qualify for protection under Paragraph 24 of the German Residence Act. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de · eestinen.fi · www.news20.ro · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Approximately 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers have undergone multi-week training in Germany since the Russian invasion in February 2022. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de · eestinen.fi · www.news20.ro · +7 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Research by the weekly newspaper ‘Die Zeit’ indicates several hundred cases of Ukrainian soldiers fleeing training sites across Germany. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de · eestinen.fi · www.news20.ro · +8 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The German Ministry of Defense confirmed that there have been ‘isolated cases’ of Ukrainian soldiers deserting while undergoing training in Germany. www.stiripesurse.ro