Russian Deserters Have Almost No Chance of Getting Asylum in Germany. What Deportation Back Home Means for Them, in a DW and ASTRA Investigation

Russian deserters have almost no chance of getting asylum in Germany. What deportation back home means for them, in a DW and ASTRA investigation

When Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine began, Nikita Zvezdov was 15 years old. In April 2024, as soon as he turned 18, the young man received a draft notice for compulsory military service.

At military unit No. 25573 near Ussuriysk, Nikita was forced to sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. To avoid ending up in Ukraine, Zvezdov decided to flee and, after getting leave, flew to Armenia and then made his way to Germany.

A German court denied him asylum in May 2026 on the grounds that his application should be handled by the country of his first entry into the EU, that is, Croatia. From there, judging by cases known to human rights defenders, the young man will likely be deported to Russia.

Russian deserters have virtually no chance of obtaining asylum in Germany, human rights defenders told DW. Many asylum denials have already been issued in Germany, while in Russia, military men who fled face persecution and torture.

DW and ASTRA tell the stories of people deported to Russia and of the torture system in the Russian army. Read on the outlet’s website:

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