Ukrainian soldiers go AWOL in France – AFP

Dozens of recruits have reportedly deserted from the elite ‘Anne of Kiev’ brigade

Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers have deserted from an elite brigade while training in France, AFP reported on Monday, citing a French army official. 

The 155th Mechanized Brigade – named ‘Anne of Kiev’ after the daughter of a medieval prince of Kiev, Yaroslav the Wise, who married French King Henry I – was meant to be a flagship Ukrainian unit trained and equipped by France. President Emmanuel Macron personally inspected the training process in northeast France in October.

Around 2,300 soldiers were trained in France, while 2,200 others were trained in Ukraine.

Without disclosing the number of deserters, the official who spoke to AFP claimed they “remain very marginal given the volume of people who have undergone training.” 

“They were in French barracks, they had the right to go out,” the official said, adding that the soldiers were subjected to a disciplinary regime “imposed by the Ukrainian command.” The official stressed that France had no authority to arrest the deserters. 

“Yes, there are problems, we are aware of them,” Mikahil Drapaty, the recently appointed commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, told AFP. 

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According to AFP, most of the soldiers arriving in France were conscripts with no combat experience and were accompanied by 300 Ukrainian supervisors. 

Popular Ukrainian journalist, Yury Butusov, reported earlier this month that “dozens” of soldiers deserted the brigade in France, and 1,700 more went AWOL while serving in Ukraine. According to Butusov, the brigade’s senior commanders have “either been fired or are in the process of being fired.” 

Commenting on Butusov’s report, Drapaty told AFP that “a number of the facts that were presented did take place,” but “perhaps not on the scale and scope that was presented.” 

The brigade admitted having problems with personnel, releasing an appeal on social media for its lost recruits to report back to base. “We understand that the reasons which have forced you to go AWOL may have been different,” the unit said in a statement on Facebook on Monday. “Return to the team. We are waiting for you.”

Tatyana Sapyan, spokeswoman of Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation, told Interfax-Ukraine that the authorities are investigating the brigade for desertion and the abuse of power. 

Last week, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced the MOD will conduct a “comprehensive analysis” of the Land Forces Command and implement “reforms in management and personnel policies.”

The Ukrainian Army has been struggling with personnel shortages and low morale on the front line, with soldiers, journalists and military bloggers increasingly criticizing the government.