At the same time, desertion and unauthorized abandonment of militaryposts within the Russian army are increasing in response to an endless war and the crimes of the regime. According to estimates by independent journalists and the OSINT community, between 100,000 and 120,000cases of refusalto participate in violence and massacres have been recorded since the start of the full- scale invasion. Only 15–20% of these cases have resulted in legal proceedings. The majority of deserters remain in Russia in constant fear: if arrested, they face torture, imprisonment, transfer to “assault battalions,” or death at the front. Only a tiny minority manage to reach a safe country.
Desertion is a powerful instrument against war: it weakens the regime’s military machine and saves lives. Supporting those who choose life and peace can accelerate the end of the conflict and become a strong signal in favor of internal change in Russia.
Granting asylum falls within the sovereignty of national states. Yet Europe is closing almost all doors to them. Even in France, where the CNDA has recognized that desertion may constitute groundsfor asylum, only a few individuals have received protection. In Germany,at the beginning of 2026, the authorities began increasingly rejecting asylum claims from Russian deserters. At the same time, several EU countries are considering a total entry ban for all Russian citizens who participated in the “SMO,” thereby depriving individuals of the right to life and humanitarian protection.
Likewise, for humanitarian reasons, we recognize the right of Ukrainian deserters to protection in the EU. The right to life and freedomtakes precedence over the rights of the state.