Key facts
- Approximately 80 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted from military training in Germany since 2022.
- Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are estimated to have deserted across Germany.
- The soldiers were undergoing training as part of the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine.
- Deserters are not considered displaced persons and are not eligible for temporary protection in Germany.
- Desertion can carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years in Ukraine during martial law.
Approximately 80 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted while undergoing military training in Germany since 2022, with estimates suggesting hundreds more have done so across the country, according to a report by Die Zeit. These soldiers were sent to Germany for training to fight Russia but have left their units without authorization, seeking to avoid returning to Ukraine amid a worsening manpower shortage.
Germany provides this training as part of the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine (EUMAM UA), launched in 2022. By early 2026, around 87,000 Ukrainian soldiers are expected to have been trained by 22 participating European countries. The training covers essential military skills such as operating equipment, weapons handling, camouflage, and first aid.
Die Zeit reported that many of the soldiers who deserted were mobilized rather than volunteers. Some reportedly used their deployment to training areas like Altengrabow in Saxony-Anhalt as an opportunity to leave their military units and remain in Germany. Under Ukrainian law, desertion with the intent to avoid service can lead to prosecution and a prison sentence of up to 12 years during martial law.
These soldiers also face an uncertain legal status in Germany. As they were officially sent by the Ukrainian government, they are not classified as displaced persons and thus are not eligible for temporary protection under Germany's Residence Act. This comes as the EU has renewed temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, while Germany and other EU nations are tightening rules for Ukrainian men of military age. Berlin and Kyiv are reportedly discussing measures to encourage, and potentially pressure, Ukrainian men living in Germany to return to Ukraine.