Six Russian soldiers who deserted the war in Ukraine have been granted temporary visas in France as they seek political asylum. This marks a significant moment, as human rights activists describe it as the first instance of a group of deserters being accepted by a European Union country.
The soldiers arrived in Paris over the past few months after fleeing Russia for Kazakhstan in 2022 and 2023. According to an organization that helps soldiers escape, this group’s journey reflects a broader trend. Alexander, a former contract soldier who deserted while deployed in Ukraine during the summer of 2023, expressed relief upon arriving in France. “When I landed, I could finally breathe. I felt calm and free,” he told the Guardian.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have deserted or refused orders to fight. However, Western nations have struggled with whether to accept these deserters, debating whether to view them as heroes or potential security risks. Although discussions about granting asylum to Russian deserters have occurred within the EU, no concrete actions had been taken until now.
Ivan Chuviliaev, a spokesperson for Go By The Forest—a group assisting Russian soldiers—highlighted that this is the first time an EU country has allowed a group of deserters entry without travel documents. Many deserters initially fled to neighboring countries like Armenia and Kazakhstan, where they could enter without passports but found themselves unable to move onward.
The Kremlin has actively sought to track down these deserters, leading to numerous incidents of kidnappings and deportations back to Russia. This dangerous situation has intensified calls from anti-war activists for Western nations to provide safe havens for these soldiers.
“In Kazakhstan, you can never feel safe; you have to stay low-key,” Alexander said. He avoided using a SIM card or bank account to escape detection and even started an anonymous YouTube channel encouraging others to desert.
Chuviliaev believes France’s decision could encourage other Western countries to follow suit. He noted that the French authorities collaborated closely with human rights organizations on this case and expressed hope that it would lead to more deserters being welcomed into Europe.
Each soldier was thoroughly vetted for their anti-war stance before being granted entry into France. Among those who received visas were individuals who had fought in Ukraine as well as conscripts who avoided frontline deployment. Chuviliaev suggested that their arrival could motivate more Russians to consider desertion.
The Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on desertion, introducing harsher penalties including prison sentences of up to 15 years for those who flee. Reports indicate that at least 7,400 cases against Russian soldiers for desertion have been initiated over the past two years.
Some deserters have faced dire consequences abroad. For example, Maksim Kuzminov, a pilot who defected to Ukraine, was killed outside his apartment in Spain earlier this year in an operation attributed to Russian intelligence.
Aware of the risks involved, Alexander hopes to assist more soldiers in relocating to the West. “I understand what they are going through. We can’t let them down,” he stated.
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