"Must become a symbol of France": Ukrainian forces revealed the latest developments regarding the controversial 155th Brigade.

President Vladimir Zelensky has been briefed on the situation in the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Anna Kyivska" amid the scandal involving mass desertions following exercises in France. This was stated on January 8 by the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Mykhailo Drapaty, who revealed new details.

"I clarified the situation, identified the reasons and those responsible. I also met with the brigade command and French journalists who are currently working in the unit, visiting positions to see firsthand how the soldiers of 'Anna Kyivska' are carrying out combat tasks and operating the weapons provided by France," he explained.

The commander noted that, in his opinion, the situation received attention "too early." He pointed out that the brigade was formed before his appointment, but the general feels it is his duty to respond to such issues.

"The formation and armament of a new brigade 'from scratch' in collaboration with a foreign state occurred for the first time and within a very short timeframe—just a few months. No one had such experience before, so it was impossible to foresee all the nuances and details of this process," he clarified.

Drapaty mentioned that the project became a "challenge," and "not all services performed excellently," but France fully met its obligations. Now, the task of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is to prove their effectiveness and rectify the mistakes.

Among these mistakes were, in particular, the fact that responsible individuals approached the formation of the brigade formally, and management and oversight of the process were inadequate. There were also errors in staffing and "not always well-considered decisions regarding personnel management." Training both in Ukraine and abroad was poorly planned, and responses to issues during the process were delayed.

The commander assured that most of the systemic shortcomings that the Ground Forces, the General Staff, and the Operational Command allowed have already been analyzed.

"These problems will be inherent in any newly created unit if it is immediately deployed in combat operations. The highest command must be aware of this and take it into account. However, the reasons why this happens are also clear to everyone. The brigade has been at the front for less than a month. This is the period when all deficiencies in staffing and training become apparent. When the spirit of the warrior is revealed. I am very grateful to the soldiers who adapt to difficult conditions and fight. Despite all the challenges, the brigade has secured a sector, is carrying out combat tasks, holding positions, and simultaneously working on correcting mistakes and improving combat readiness. This is happening in three areas: training and morale; logistics; and personnel management and control," Drapaty reported.

The general stated that the current focus is on staffing the brigade with experienced officers and commanders. The new brigade commander has already submitted a request for supplies, which is being processed. An "effective system for enhancing additional training" for the soldiers has also been established. To foster morale within the units, a special group of psychological specialists is at work. Some military personnel who went AWOL have already returned to service.

"The situation is complex. The main challenge the brigade faces is the low effectiveness and motivation of mid-level commanders who directly manage personnel. This, as well as the involvement of units in combat operations, accounts for the number of desertions in the 155th brigade. I must note that I have not observed mass cases of soldiers abandoning their combat positions. However, I do see a certain misinterpretation of terms, where the number of deserters is equated with cases of AWOL. There is no simple recipe here—we need to work on resolving all the problematic issues that lead to desertions, not only in the Ground Forces but throughout the Armed Forces as a whole," emphasized the commander.

He informed that he is personally seeking officers whom he will recommend to the brigade commander. Starting January 8, a special hotline for the soldiers of the controversial brigade will be launched. It can be reached at 0800-500-410 (after listening, press the number 5) and operates from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.

"I believe that the 155th brigade named after Anna Kyivska is promising and will yet prove itself. Yes, it requires time and the efforts of many to correct the mistakes made during its formation. But the newly established Ukrainian brigade named after Anna Kyivska can and should become a true 'Gallic Rooster'—a symbol of France: proud, unyielding, and ready to fight for freedom," added Drapaty.

Recall that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has stated plans to reinforce the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Anna Kyivska."

An officer from the controversial brigade, currently AWOL, shared anonymously about the problems within the 155th Mechanized Brigade. He explained why he left service and complained about the quality of the exercises in France.