Germany Confirms Ukrainian Soldiers Deserted in Training

Germany’s Defense Ministry has confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers have deserted while training in Germany. The Bundeswehr has no role in identifying deserters, however, as this is an internal matter for the Ukrainian armed forces, the ministry said.

According to Die Zeit, authorities are aware of several hundred such cases nationwide, including 80 in Saxony-Anhalt alone. Germany has so far trained around 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers as part of the EU training mission.

During the first two years of the war, those who deserted were mainly experienced soldiers. Ukraine now also sends recruits to EU countries for training, most of whom are conscripts, as the number of volunteers joining the military has fallen sharply.

Since the start of the Russian invasion, at least 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted, while 250,000 face proceedings for unauthorized absence from their units. Around two million men are hiding within Ukraine to avoid mobilization.

Ukraine’s recruitment system has been dogged by corruption scandals and controversial practices, including the use of physical violence by recruiters. Exemptions from conscription for certain professions are also regarded as unfair by many Ukrainians, while the question of how to limit the service of soldiers who have already spent years in the military remains unresolved.

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