France has allowed a group of six Russian deserters entry into the country, offering them a temporary refuge from the war in Ukraine.
This decision marks the first time that a European Union country has granted visas to Russian soldiers without requiring them to present travel documents or passports.
The six deserters arrived separately in recent months, having initially fled from Russia to Kazakhstan before managing to reach France.
The French government’s approval of their entry came after lengthy discussions with human rights organizations, ensuring that the soldiers posed no security risk and were genuinely opposed to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
This development has offered a glimmer of hope to thousands of soldiers unwilling to participate in the conflict, despite the risks associated with fleeing Russia.
Limited Escape Options Amid a Growing Crisis
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the number of soldiers attempting to flee the military has increased significantly.
According to the independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, nearly 7,400 soldiers have been prosecuted for going absent without leave (AWOL), though the true number of deserters is believed to be much higher. Many soldiers are simply too afraid to desert, knowing the severe penalties they face under Russian law.
The legal consequences for desertion in Russia have become harsher since the start of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted laws that significantly increased the penalties for desertion during wartime, with soldiers now facing up to 10 years in prison.
Reports from Ukraine suggest that Russian soldiers who refuse to fight are often subjected to brutal treatment, including being confined in pits and basements by their superiors for days on end.
The situation for deserters who manage to escape Russia remains precarious. Without official documentation, their options for safe refuge are limited to a few former Soviet republics, such as Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, which do not require passports for entry.
However, these countries present significant risks. As Anastasia Burakova, founder of the organization The Ark, explained, “It’s really difficult to find a job or have any income.
They can’t have any legal status. They can’t leave the country. And also, they’re at high risk of being kidnapped.”
This danger is not hypothetical. There have been reports of Russian deserters being forcibly returned to Russia after fleeing to neighboring countries.
In December 2023, Russian deserter Dmitri Sedrakov was captured in Armenia by Russian forces and taken back to Russia.
Similar incidents have occurred in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where deserters have been extradited, leading to fears that any escape route remains tenuous.
Humanitarian Efforts to Provide Safe Passage
Organizations like The Ark and Go By The Forest have been working tirelessly to support Russian soldiers who refuse to participate in the war.
The Ark has facilitated the escape of soldiers to countries such as Kazakhstan, although the organization cannot guarantee safety in these regions. According to Burakova, “We can’t promise them that they will not be kidnapped from these countries.”
Go By The Forest has also reported a high demand for assistance. As of March 2024, the organization had helped 520 soldiers, with 30% still hiding within Russia.
The rest had managed to flee abroad, seeking sanctuary wherever they could find it. The support provided by these organizations includes logistical help, legal advice, and connections to human rights groups that can advocate on behalf of deserters.
The French decision to grant visas to six Russian deserters came after meticulous background checks were conducted using open-source software to ensure that the soldiers were not involved in any war crimes or active fighting in Ukraine.
“We can identify that the people didn’t take part in war crimes or sometimes that they were just stationed in military points in Russia, not in occupied territories of Ukraine,” Burakova said.
The hope is that this step will pave the way for more EU countries to offer asylum to Russian deserters, thereby providing a safer and more viable path for those unwilling to fight.
A Message of Hope and a Path to Asylum
The decision by France could potentially alter the landscape for Russian soldiers contemplating desertion. Since the start of the war, the EU has debated offering asylum to deserters and draft evaders, though no formal policy has been adopted.
Many countries in the EU suspended visas for Russian nationals, further complicating escape routes for soldiers who opposed the war.
Humanitarian groups have faced the difficult task of guiding soldiers on what steps to take, given the lack of official asylum pathways.
Despite these challenges, Burakova remains hopeful. She believes that France’s move will demonstrate to other Russian soldiers that there are options other than going to Ukraine and killing.
The Ark and Go By The Forest continue to share their resources and communicate through platforms like Telegram, which remain accessible in Russia despite widespread censorship.
These channels serve as a lifeline for soldiers seeking a way out, providing information on escape routes and support networks.
The Broader Implications for Ending the War
The decision to grant asylum to these soldiers does not merely offer them a lifeline; it also has broader implications for the war in Ukraine.
Allowing deserters to find refuge could encourage more soldiers to abandon the fight, potentially weakening the Russian military’s capacity to sustain the conflict.
“Showing that there is a way out from the army is one of the tools to end this war more quickly,” Burakova stated.
By providing a pathway for soldiers to escape, France and other potential asylum-granting countries could help undermine Russia’s war effort from within.
However, obstacles remain. The legal frameworks for granting asylum to military deserters vary across the EU, and the political willingness to accommodate them is inconsistent.
France’s decision could be seen as a test case, which, if successful, might encourage other EU member states to reconsider their stance on asylum for Russian deserters.
The move could also prompt a broader discussion on the ethical and political implications of offering sanctuary to those fleeing a war that their government initiated.
A Call for a Formal Asylum Policy
As the war in Ukraine drags on, the issue of asylum for Russian deserters is likely to become more pressing. The risk of capture or extradition remains a significant deterrent for soldiers who oppose the war.
In light of this, human rights groups and organizations aiding deserters continue to call for the EU to adopt a formal policy that would provide a safer route for soldiers unwilling to fight.
The granting of visas to these six soldiers in France may be a small step, but it is a step nonetheless. For Alexander, one of the deserters, the relief was palpable upon his arrival in France.
“When I landed in France, it was the first time I could breathe fully. I felt a sense of calmness and freedom … the worst was behind me,” he told the Guardian. His experience may now offer hope to others who wish to escape a war they do not believe in.
The path forward remains uncertain, but the stories of these six deserters and the efforts of groups like The Ark serve as a reminder that even in times of conflict, there are still avenues for peace and sanctuary.
As the EU continues to grapple with the complexities of the war, the question remains: will more countries follow France’s lead and offer a lifeline to those who choose to lay down their arms?
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