In the "Bear's Den" background material, it states that after defecting, the 27th actually decided that their target was the Ukraine. It also talks about the division fighting against relatives and ex-members of its own unit.
The unit, in this case has defected but is still following its own agenda as much as possible. NATO is being used to provide what limited aid it can, plus the fact that the NATO POWs can add comat ability to the unit.
I think that you can argue the case that the leaders of the 27th have forged an alliance of convienience with NATO. It'll use the resources for its own eneds. In effect, the two organisations are less allied than following parrallel agendas that at present make co-operation viable. I'd imagine the 27th would abandon its NATO alliegence in a heartbeat should it become oppressive or even run counter to their own agenda.
As for deserters, the book states that something like 950 troops are being used to garrisson the Transcaucus region, this already erodes the combat ability of the division, but you could easily state that more have deserted. It may be the case however that even people considering desertion have stayed with the division because it provides food and shelter in a dangerous environment.
You may decide that a secret proportion of the troops are shakey and will start to desert if the division sees serious combat or attrition and the sum swings into the other spectrum where you have a better chance on your own than with a larger unit engaged in risky activities.
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