If kyiv can count on the help and support of France, Volodymyr Zelensky’s army faces a problem: desertion.
France indicated several months ago that it wanted to help Ukraine in its war against Russia, by sending military equipment such as Mirage fighter planes but also by training men. This is the 155th Ukrainian mechanized brigade, named “Mother in Kyiv”.
“Problems”
As the situation becomes very difficult in the Pokrovsk region, an oblast targeted by Russia, dozens of soldiers trained by the French army have deserted. “I confirm of course that there were problems with the command and the training process”said Mikhailo Drapaty, commander of the Ukrainian ground forces.
“There are problems with personnel, preparation and composition of units. We analyze them, we draw conclusions. And what emerges from the negativity serves as experience for us. Let’s be frank, there is no “another example currently of a brigade built from scratch, and from which good results are expected at each stage, without encountering certain problems. These problems are in the process of being resolved.”he explains, relayed by West France.
Of the “problems” confirmed by a French general staff official, cited by BFMTV. “There have been a certain number of desertions, but these remain very marginal given the volume of people who have been trained.”
“55 desertions in France”
If kyiv seems to be taking steps to overcome this “chaos”Sébastien Lecornu, guest of Europe 1 this Wednesday, raised the subject of the desertion of the soldiers of this brigade formed by France. While the exact figure was still unknown, the Minister of the Armed Forces mentioned “55 desertions in France”.
“It is the Ukrainian general staff which is the main accused of this scandal. Accused of having dismantled this brigade before it had even fought, sending soldiers to the front who were not really prepared, provoking unnecessary deaths, desertions, abandonment of posts”judges the journalist BFMTV Ulysse Gosset.
Between poor training, lack of equipment, fear of the soldiers, from the first days on the front, significant losses were counted. Desertion is becoming increasingly common among Ukrainian ranks as the conflict approaches its third year.
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