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Failure for France? Ukrainians trained by French army deserted battlefield

The Ukrainian “Anne of Kiev” brigade had been trained and equipped in France, at the Mourmelon-le-Grand camp (Marne), last December. Now back on the frontline, it's reportedly already experiencing a wave of desertions within its ranks. 

The 155th Ukrainian mechanized brigade is now under investigation. During training in northeastern France, 55 desertions have already been confirmed by the French army. 

Half of the unit, some 2,000 men, had been sent to the Mourmelon-le-Grand camp in September to make up for their lack of experience. The aim was to learn how to handle combat vehicles and weapons.

As La Dépêche reports, the 155th mechanized brigade was split into several units to reinforce brigades in difficulty on the front line. And therein lies the friction, as the Ukrainian General Staff is accused of having misdirected these soldiers, sending them to “patch up the holes” in the Ukrainian army. As the French Minister of the Armed Forces points out: “Overall, the various companies formed were dispersed over various front lines.” In particular, many fighters were sent to Pokrovsk, where the Russian army is concentrating its efforts. The problem was that they were beginners who had only just been trained. 

What's more, of the 4,500 soldiers who make up the brigade, half of whom trained in France, 1,700 are said to have fled the war. According to 20 Minutes, most of them abandoned their posts even before being deployed to the front line. 

For his part, Ukrainian journalist Yuri Boutoussov asserts that the “Anne of Kiev” brigade wasn't equipped with drones or electronic jamming equipment, which is essential for military units. “Because of the criminal attitude towards the lives of soldiers, the 155th brigade suffered heavy losses from the very first days,” he said. 

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source: La Dépêche/20 Minutes - Illustration: Unsplash)

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