No one knows how many people have fled Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Andriy, who spoke to German media, paid $6,000 to escape from Ukraine. And Vassil went into hiding. Mykola was abroad when the war erupted, and he simply never returned to his homeland.

Despite the inhuman and brutal conscription imposed by the Ukrainian government due to the ongoing war, the number of people available for conscription is dwindling. The war in Ukraine has now lasted for over two years. Under martial law, men aged between 18 and 60 are conscripted and prohibited from leaving the country. Exceptions include fathers with three or more children, fathers of disabled children, disabled men, and those caring for disabled spouses or parents. Those who refuse military service face imprisonment or forced recruitment. Many pay thousands of euros to traffickers to escape the country.

The Ukrainian border police recently reported that an average of ten people per day are caught attempting to leave Ukraine illegally.

„I came to Berlin a few years before the Russian invasion to work as a construction worker. I am from western Ukraine, and now there are almost no men left in my village. They are either at the frontline or, like me, abroad,”

– Mykola told the German Tagesspiegel newspaper in an interview relayed by Focus. His wife has also moved to Germany, while his daughter remains in Ukraine to continue her studies. He said he misses his home, but not the country itself.

„I resent the Ukrainian state for not providing us with any social guarantees while simultaneously demanding that we return to defend it. I don’t feel obligated to do so because I disagree with the current policy,”

– he said. He also emphasized that he does not trust the official statistics, arguing that the number of dead and wounded is much higher than claimed by the Ukrainian government. According to him, while ordinary people are sent to the frontline, the children of Ukrainian politicians are kept out of harm’s way. Mykola pointed out that his cousin, who was conscripted, was recently declared missing. Since his body has not been found, his wife cannot receive the support promised by the Ukrainian government.

„I have no guilty conscience. I am glad I managed to avoid military service. But I feel very sorry for the young men who die every day on the frontline, and for their mothers, widows, and orphaned children,”

– he explained. Another survivor, Vasil, explained that he does not see himself as a traitor.

„Since the war began, I’ve just been living and trusting in my luck. After all, conscription is like a game of roulette. So far, around a million people, including volunteers, have been conscripted into the army,”

– he said. He added that until the government tightened mobilization measures late last year, there was no major issue. Now, however, recruiting officers are actively searching for people on the streets, at traffic stops, and at checkpoints, so people avoid public spaces as much as possible.

Andriy, who paid six thousand euros for his freedom, told Focus that while he might be seen as a coward and traitor in his home country, he doesn’t care about others’ opinions.

„I think it is better to be a living war resister than a dead hero. I believe many who judge me are actually jealous. I enjoy the life of a free man, while others live in fear of being called to the frontline every day. I was braver by running away. It was risky, but I did it mainly for my wife and children. They had fled to Poland before the war and were waiting for me there. Keeping my family together was more important than defending a country. I didn’t want to become cannon fodder. And why should my two children grow up without a father? Just because I have only two kids? Fathers with three children are allowed to go abroad and stay with their families. I don’t see the logic in that,”

– the deserter explained.