Press service of the 24 Mechanized brigade/EPA
Ukrainian soldier
Soldiers were carrying out training in France. The French cannot arrest them, the Ukrainians’ powers are limited.
Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers he has deserted in recent months in France, where they carried out training and exercises.
The information was confirmed by a French military officer, speaking to
Agence France-Presse.
“There has been a large number of desertions, dozens“, admitted the source, who however highlights that “given the number of people who were trained, it is a very low number”.
According to journalist Yuriy Butusov, in December 50 Ukrainian soldiers had already deserted in France.
It is estimated that the French army is training around 2,300 Ukrainian soldiers, because of the war with Russia.
What happens?
Those who fled were in French barracks, so “they had the right to leave”explains the French soldier.
And now, legally, no one can catch the deserters.
These Ukrainian soldiers trained in France were subject to a disciplinary regime “imposed by the Ukrainian command”.
France does not criminalize desertion. French justice does nothing in these cases, there will be no criminal consequences for deserters.
O power of Ukrainians in this case it is limited: “The right granted to Ukrainian authorities on French soil is only a disciplinary right,” the source continued.
Most of the Ukrainian soldiers who went to France are recruits without experience of combat. They were accompanied by 300 Ukrainian supervisors.
Ukrainian commander Mykhailo Drapaty had already admitted that there are “problems” with the military unit, precisely after reports that many of its soldiers had deserted. “Yes, there are problems and we are aware of it” – and he did not deny the number of 50 deserting soldiers.
