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Ukrainian soldiers desert training in Germany amid manpower crisis
In Germany, around 80 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted while undergoing military training since 2022. These soldiers were sent to Germany to receive military instruction before returning to Ukraine to fight against Russia. Many left their training units unauthorized, likely to avoid returning to Ukraine amidst a worsening manpower shortage in the Ukrainian military.

Updated Aug 21, 2026 First published Aug 20, 2026