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Challenges Faced by Ukraine’s 155th Mechanised Brigade Amidst War Pressures
Approximately 1,700 soldiers from Ukraine’s 155th mechanised brigade, a unit trained in France and equipped by Western allies, went AWOL before engaging in any combat operations.
Reports indicate that at least 50 soldiers from the 155th, recognized for operating the Leopard 2 battle tank, vanished during training exercises in France.
By the time the brigade faced its first battle, previous records showed that around 1,700 troops had gone absent without leave at various intervals.
This mass disappearance occurred when the brigade was preparing for deployment to Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub for Ukraine’s defenses against ongoing Russian operations in the eastern Donetsk region.
The 155th brigade, colloquially referred to as Anne of Kyiv, underwent nine months of training in Western Ukraine, Poland, and France as a part of an aggressive strategy implemented by President Volodymyr Zelensky to enhance military capabilities.
Upon entering combat, the brigade reportedly sustained heavy losses, including the destruction of some of its key tanks and armored vehicles, prompting an investigation by the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigations into its formation and operational readiness.
Originally intended to comprise over 5,800 soldiers with advanced equipment such as Leopard tanks and French Caesar 155mm howitzers, the brigade’s ability to function effectively has been compromised by its tumultuous start.
Last June, Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a substantial military project worth $900 billion, highlighting their collaboration to bolster Ukraine’s armed forces.
Despite the extensive training efforts, recent reports indicate that around 500 members of this unit remain unaccounted for.
Yuriy Butusov, a prominent Ukrainian war journalist, criticized the situation, stating: “This is indeed a crime, but the crime of the leaders of the supreme commander-in-chief, the Ministry of Defence and the general staff, who continue to waste their lives and public funds on new projects, instead of strengthening experienced and combat-capable brigades.”
Analysts have raised doubts about Kyiv’s strategy of forming new brigades using inexperienced recruits and equipment donations instead of reinforcing existing experienced units.
Butusov highlighted that the formation of the 155th brigade was fraught with challenges from the very beginning, with recruitment efforts facing significant setbacks. Out of 2,500 recruits initially enlisted, many were redirected to support other units before training could commence.
Ultimately, 1,924 volunteers were sent to France, yet it was discovered that only 51 had prior military experience exceeding one year, with the majority—1,414—having joined the military in the two months preceding their overseas training.
During their training in France, over 700 additional troops went missing while still on Ukrainian soil between October and November.
Upon deployment, the 155th brigade was notably lacking in essential resources such as reconnaissance drones and electronic warfare equipment.
In response to the government’s inadequate supply efforts, Serhii Sternenko, a Ukrainian influencer and military fundraiser, reportedly provided additional gear to the struggling brigade.
Cash for drones was only received from the government ten days after the brigade began its operations, leading to the losses of tanks and armored vehicles due to enemy drone attacks.
Soon after their frontline deployment, Colonel Dmytro Ryumshin was removed from his position as brigade commander.
Bohdan Krotevych, chief of staff of Ukraine’s Azov Brigade, questioned the logic behind establishing new brigades with incomplete resources while existing units remained under-equipped.
Butusov asserted that the brigade’s personnel effectively became victims of a poorly executed public relations initiative by the administration, lacking proper implementation.
Ultimately, the 155th mechanised brigade has been effectively disbanded, with its remnants reassigned to seasoned brigades already engaged in the defense of Pokrovsk.
Source
www.yahoo.com