Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers did not return to their units after training in Germany — Die Zeit

Hundreds of Ukrainian military personnel may not have returned to their units after undergoing military training in Germany. In the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, authorities are aware of more than 80 such cases, Die Zeit reports, citing the results of its own investigation.

Ukrainian servicemen are sent to Germany for training at Bundeswehr training grounds as part of the European EUMAM mission. They undergo both general military training and training in operating Western tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and other equipment.

According to German media reports, some servicemen left their training sites after arrival and did not return to their units. Across Germany as a whole, the number of such cases could amount to several hundred.

In Saxony-Anhalt, more than 80 cases are known

Particular attention in the investigation is paid to the Altengrabow training ground in Saxony-Anhalt. It is in this federal state that the local Ministry of the Interior has information on more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen who did not return after training.

According to the publication, some of these servicemen were mobilized in Ukraine and were not volunteers. Some of them used the opportunity to be in Germany for military training to leave the service.

Since the start of the large-scale training program in Germany, tens of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen have been trained. Back in March 2026, the Bundeswehr reported more than 25,000 trained soldiers. Training was conducted at nearly 50 locations as part of more than 100 training missions.

The status of such soldiers in Germany differs from that of refugees

The situation has a separate legal aspect. The servicemen did not arrive in Germany as people fleeing the war, but were officially sent by Ukraine for training. Therefore, the mere fact of Ukrainian citizenship does not mean automatic receipt of temporary protection specifically in connection with leaving the military training site.

German authorities must consider further grounds for the stay of each such individual on a case-by-case basis. At the same time, return to Ukraine may entail criminal legal consequences for the serviceman.

Ukrainian legislation distinguishes between unauthorized leaving of a unit and desertion. The latter implies an intent to evade military service. If the serviceman's actions are qualified as desertion committed during martial law, Article 408 of the Criminal Code provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of five to twelve years.

At the same time, the mere fact of failure to return after training does not yet allow automatic assertion that in each specific case the serviceman has been recognized as a deserter: final legal qualification depends on the circumstances and decisions of Ukrainian law enforcement and judicial authorities.

Based on materials from: Die Zeit, Bundeswehr, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine