The Associated Press spoke with five officers and one soldier who deserted the Russian military. All have criminal cases against them in Russia, where they face 10 years or more in prison. Each is waiting for a welcome from the West that has never arrived. Instead, all but one live in hiding.
There’s a difference between surrender and defection.
Soldiers who surrender are afforded protections and retain ties to their countries. After hostilities resolve or if a prisoner transfer is arranged, they return to their country and generally do not face punishment. At least according to Geneva conventions on lawful war. It’s rarely this simple and clean.
Soldiers who defect have few, if any, protections and are in a weird place with nationality. They are typically considered fugitives by their home countries and may or may not be able to travel internationally as they may also be stateless.