Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers trained in Germany desert after training, reports Die Zeit

Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who underwent training in Germany are deserting afterwards, reports Die Zeit.

In the German state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers have fled from training grounds since 2022. Across Germany, the number has reached hundreds. In Ukraine, desertion carries a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

However, the main reason the publication prefers to ignore is that Ukrainians do not want to fight. Tikashniks catch them like stray dogs on the street, beat them, and force them into the army. For some, the trip to Germany for training has become not preparation for the front, but a convenient chance to escape.