France Issues Temporary Visas to Six Russian Soldiers Fleeing Ukraine War

France has granted temporary visas to six Russian soldiers who fled the war in Ukraine, marking a significant development that could encourage other countries to provide protection to individuals in similar situations.

These soldiers arrived in France separately and are now seeking political asylum, with the support of Go By The Forest, an organization that assists soldiers escaping the war. This is the first instance in which an EU country has accepted a group of deserters who lacked travel documents or foreign passports. Ivan Chuviliaev, a spokesperson for Go By The Forest, confirmed their involvement in helping these soldiers during their journey.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the number of Russian soldiers deserting the military or refusing to follow orders has grown substantially, reaching tens of thousands since the conflict began in February 2022, according to The Guardian. However, even after escaping the battlefield, deserters often face persecution, including in countries where they seek refuge. Russian soldiers commonly flee to former Soviet states like Armenia and Kazakhstan, where travel documents are not required. Yet, their safety remains precarious.

One of the soldiers, Alexander, described his relief upon arriving 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. In Kazakhstan, you can never feel safe; you just have to keep your head down." His experience reflects the broader danger that deserters face even in exile.

Russia has actively pursued deserters who have fled abroad, applying pressure on certain countries to deport them back. An example of this is Mikhail Zhilin, a former Russian intelligence officer who was deported from Kazakhstan and returned to Russia, where he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

Even those who manage to reach the EU are not entirely secure. In February, Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian pilot who had deserted the war in Ukraine, was found dead, having been shot in his apartment in Alicante, Spain, highlighting the risks Russian deserters continue to face.

Relations between Russia and the EU have soured dramatically since the war began in February 2024, with many European countries no longer issuing visas to Russian citizens. These restrictions have largely been enacted due to national security concerns and in solidarity with Ukraine. Consequently, the number of visa applications filed by Russians has fallen sharply, with a 24% decrease in 2023, signaling a reduced interest among Russians in traveling to the EU.

Similarly, Russia has reduced the number of visas issued to European nationals. Data from the Russian Foreign Ministry reveals that while 158,972 visas were granted in 2023, this represented only a 0.7% increase from 2022 and a significant 37.7% drop from 2021, the year before the war began. 

By fLEXI tEAM