Offfering a way out for Russian soldiers who want to stop fighting in Ukraine……….. The escape route for Russian soldiers wishing to flee the fighting in Ukraine is complex and fraught with danger. Deserters face harsh punishment under Russian law, and it is almost impossible for them to travel to “safe” countries
In EU first, France grants visas to six Russian soldiers who deserted
France’s decision to grant visas to Russian deserters is being celebrated by human rights groups who hope other EU countries will follow suit, offering a way out for Russian soldiers who want to stop fighting in Ukraine.
Russian recruits undergo combat assault training at a firing range in the Rostov region, Russia, on October 4, 2024.
Russian recruits undergo combat assault training at a firing range in the Rostov region, Russia, on October 4, 2024. © Sergey Pivovarov, Reuters
The escape route for Russian soldiers wishing to flee the fighting in Ukraine is complex and fraught with danger. Deserters face harsh punishment under Russian law, and it is almost impossible for them to travel to “safe” countries outside the Kremlin’s sphere of influence.
The six soldiers arrived in France separately in recent months after initially fleeing from Russia to Kazakhstan. It was the first time any EU country has allowed a group of deserters entry without travel documents or foreign passports, the Guardian reported on Thursday.
“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,” Alexander, a former Russian contract soldier who deserted during the summer of 2023, told the British newspaper
