Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into suspected desertion and abuse of authority within the French-trained a hundred and fifty fifth "Anne of Kyiv" Mechanized Brigade, the bureau confirmed for Suspilne on Jan. 2.
The assertion comes following a media investigation that claimed that troopers of the unit, now deployed close to Pokrovsk, have suffered losses and went AWOL (absent with out depart) in massive numbers as a consequence of poor command and group on Ukraine's facet.
The brigade is a flagship undertaking beneath which Kyiv's companions will assist practice new Ukrainian army formations and supply heavy gear. The coaching of the a hundred and fifty fifth Brigade, named after an Eleventh-century Kyiv Rus princess and partner to French King Henry I, was introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron in June.
The unit has about 5,800 troops, fewer than 2,000 of whom have undergone coaching in France. It’s armed with French AMX10 armored autos, Caesar howitzers, and German Leopard 2A4 tanks, amongst different weapons.
France fulfilled its obligations relating to coaching and arms, mentioned Yurii Butusov, the chief editor of the Censor.web outlet, within the media investigation, placing the blame for the unit's issues on high Ukrainian army and political management.
In line with the journalist, the unit's founding was an "organizational chaos" because the very starting. Even earlier than the coaching in France started, 2,500 service members had been reportedly despatched to different models, thus eradicating lots of the most certified personnel from the brigade.
Of the 1,924 troopers ultimately despatched to France, solely 51 had greater than a 12 months of army service, whereas 1,414 had served for lower than two months, Butusov wrote.
The unit was additionally stricken by massive numbers of troopers going AWOL — about 50 abandoned in France, along with a whole bunch who left their posts even earlier than the unit was deployed on the entrance, in response to the journalist.
Between March and November, over 1,700 troopers had gone AWOL, Butusov claimed with out offering proof. Although the unit was replenished with new recruits, these typically didn’t bear "correct choice course of," the journalist added.
The army laid the blame for desertions in France on the brigade's commander, Dmytro Riumshin, who was dismissed in early December alongside a number of different high officers. The brand new commanders had been unaware of the issues plaguing the unit, including to the confusion, Butusov wrote.
The a hundred and fifty fifth Brigade didn’t reportedly obtain drones or digital warfare gear from the Ukrainian command. This, along with poor group and inadequate coaching, is alleged to have contributed to the losses the unit suffered as soon as deployed in fight in November.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm the claims.
The French Protection Ministry declined to touch upon the investigation when approached by the media.
"The investigation is ongoing. It’s too early to speak about any preliminary outcomes," the State Bureau of Investigation informed Suspilne.
The information comes amid rising requires reform within the Ukrainian army management as Kyiv finds itself more and more on the again foot within the battle with Russia.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy