The French Ministry of Defense responded to a scandal around the 155th Anna de Kyiv Brigade, trained by the French Armed Forces
The ministry noted that it is the Armed Forces of Ukraine that determine the conditions for the deployment of the brigade on the territory of Ukraine
France has fully completed its obligations to train Ukrainian military personnel of the 155th mechanized brigade Anna de Kyiv.
“This is a complete training model that has so far been implemented only by France, and which was highly appreciated by the Ukrainian partner,” the French defense ministry said in response to a request from Radio Liberty asking it to respond to the scandal around the brigade.
In the fall of 2024, France trained 2,300 fighters of the Ukrainian brigade. They were trained directly on French equipment intended for Ukraine, and after the training, these military personnel returned home with it, Radio Liberty was informed by the French Ministry of Defense.
The ministry did not comment on the report that the brigade trained by the French armed forces became the subject of an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation in Ukraine after mass desertion of personnel from the brigade.
“It was the Armed Forces of Ukraine that organized the selection of Ukrainian military personnel for the formation of this brigade and the management of the processes. Also (and it’s natural) the Ukrainian armed forces determine the conditions for the deployment of the brigade on the territory of Ukraine,” the French Ministry of Defense emphasized.
The administration of President Emmanuel Macron after asking to comment on the reports in media advised to contact the French Ministry of Defense.
The brigade, part of which was trained and prepared by the French side, is currently fighting in the Pokrovsk direction. On December 31, journalist Yuriy Butusov published facts about its formation and support, which he called “complete organizational chaos.”
This, according to the journalist, caused mass losses in the brigade from the first days of the battles near Pokrovsk. He separately notes the facts of mass desertion. In particular, 50 people left the brigade directly in France and asked for political asylum.
And in Ukraine, the number of deserters from the brigade even before it was sent to the front was about 1,700 people.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the facts presented in the media regarding the 155th mechanized brigade "Anna de Kyiv", the proceedings are being investigated under articles of abuse of authority and desertion, the communications adviser of the Bureau Tetyana Sapyan told Radio Liberty.
According to Yuri Butusov, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will hold the Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters on Friday, January 3, at which the issue of the situation surrounding the 155th brigade "Anna de Kyiv" will be discussed.
Background. As we wrote earlier, journalist Butusov told about the catastrophic situation in the 155th brigade, which was undergoing training in France. From the first day at the front, significant losses of people began due to poor leadership and lack of training, and Butusov blamed high-ranking military officials for this.
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