After its training in France, the 155th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces was deployed to the front.
On their return to Ukraine, “more than 1000 members” of this brigade equipped by France “flee the front line”.
A largely overestimated figure and a rumor amplified by the Russian propaganda machine.
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Information scrutinized by Auditors
For Paris, this brigade was to be a “support model”. In the pro-Russian narrative, she became a “fiasco”. Several accounts have affirmed since Sunday December 15 that the 155th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, trained and equipped by France, is facing “massive desertions”. According to them, “more than 1000 members” of this brigade nicknamed Anne of kyiv would have “flee the front line”. A sign that even with nine weeks of work in eastern France, the approximately 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would not have been ready for combat. We wanted to check.
In their publications, several Internet users refer to a single source, the Telegram account (new window) English-speaking “Military Summary Archive”, which also has its Russian version. In both cases, they rely on the video of Yuri Boutousov, a Ukrainian journalist. We found the sequence in a live (new window) published on December 13 on the channel of this commentator specializing in military issues.
Facing the camera, he actually attacks “military and political leaders” Ukrainians. According to his information, they would have decentralized the 155th mechanized brigade formed by France upon its arrival on the front in order to constitute several units. To swell the ranks of these new brigades, the command would have added “several thousand people” inexperienced, directly “recruited on the street and transported on buses”. But faced with the Russian breakthrough near Pokrovsk (new window), “several hundred, more than a thousand people, returned home immediately afterwards.” A situation that he exposed again in the Ukrainian press the next day, deploring that the authorities “not answer for their actions”.
Strong criticism in Ukraine
Information which corresponds to the observation of MP Mariana Bezuhla. At the origin of strong criticism of military commanders since the start of the conflict, this Ukrainian elected official regretted on December 7 that the Anne brigade of kyiv had been decentralized and its members sent to the front without coordination. President of a parliamentary committee (new window) on the control of the action of representatives of state authorities, she even goes so far as to compare this unity to a “brigade zombie” created for communication reasons.
However, dividing this brigade into smaller units can be justified, as a French military source points out. This decision, already taken in the past in numerous conflicts in the case of an elite unit, even presents strategic advantages, including that of multiplying units in order to consider possible rotations. (new window) and inject new soldiers where losses were numerous.
But faced with the advance of the Russians at Pokrovsk, these troops fell back, effectively causing the dispersion of these men, whose regrouping may take time. And this is without counting the flight of some members of these new units, according to this same military source. When asked about this, the Ukrainian military refused to comment. On the side of the general staff of the French armies, we recall that these are the Ukrainian armed forces “which define the conditions of deployment on Ukrainian soil”.
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But then, can we talk about a thousand soldiers? “What I can say is that there have been a large number of cases of unauthorized absence from the unit by military personnel”Mariana Bezuhla answers us, emphasizing that it is not exclusively a question of soldiers having been trained in France. Proof of the difficulties encountered by this unit, Colonel Dmitri Ryumshin, who had been in charge until then, was replaced (new window) from Wednesday December 11 by Colonel Taras Maksimov.
With TF1info, the Rada MP took the opportunity to highlight the “quality of management” of the Ukrainian army. And send a message to allies. “We not only need the weapons to defend Europe, but also a change in military management and support to achieve this.” Note that the training carried out by France did include an apprenticeship (new window) intended for the brigade headquarters on tactical employment.
Distorted words and amplified rumor
It is therefore false to indicate that 1000 members of this unit trained and equipped by France deserted the ranks. This is the only estimate by a military commentator based on observations of departures across all units deployed on the Pokrovsk front. The fact remains that a lively debate does indeed exist in Ukraine regarding the Anne of kyiv brigade and its deployment.
Authentic information, which was then amplified by pro-Russian networks and diverted to incriminate France. Thus, the distorted comments of journalist Yuri Boutousov were picked up on December 15 by the entire ecosystem linked to Portal Kombat, this “structured and coordinated” network. (new window) which relays Russian propaganda in Europe through different portals. Simultaneously, the usual relays of Russian propaganda in France shared this content, including former senator Yves Pozzo di Borgo. Not without adding to this false information a narrative on the “fiasco” economical of these costly expenses for the “French taxpayer”. Blessed bread for this conspirator in the service of Russian propaganda who has multiplied false information since the start of the conflict in an attempt at all costs to discredit France's support for Ukraine.
Do you want to ask us questions or submit information that you do not believe is reliable? Do not hesitate to write to us at [email protected]. Also find us on Twitter: our team is present there behind the account @verif_TF1LCI.
