General Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ukraine's Ground Forces chief, reported to President Volodymyr Zelensky on the causes of the problems facing the French-trained 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Brigade and presented solutions, Drapatyi said on Jan. 7.
A French army official confirmed to AFP on Jan. 6 that several dozen Ukrainian soldiers serving in the 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Mechanized Brigade deserted while undergoing military training in France.
Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, acknowledged significant challenges within the French-trained 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Mechanized Brigade, including high desertion rates and poor organization, during a Jan. 6 press conference.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi’s statements came following a media investigation claimed that soldiers of the unit, now deployed near Pokrovsk, have suffered losses and went AWOL (absent without leave) in large numbers due to poor command and organization on Ukraine's side.
The statement comes following a media investigation that claimed that soldiers of the unit, deployed near Pokrovsk, have suffered heavy losses and went AWOL in large numbers due to poor command and organization on Ukraine's side.
“We are currently working to create conditions for the training to last 2 months in total. High-quality training means, first and foremost, the preservation of the lives and health of our soldiers,” Syrskyi said.
NATO has assumed responsibility for coordinating Western military aid to Ukraine through the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine center, Reuters reported on Dec. 17, citing its sources.
Launched in October 2022, the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM) has already trained approximately 60,000 Ukrainian troops as of August 2024, primarily in Germany and Poland.
Norway will continue training Ukrainian F-16 pilots as part of its support for Ukraine’s defense and will relocate its training base from Denmark to Portugal, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced in a Dec. 13 press release.
The proposed changes include a revamped recruitment system with "zero tolerance for corruption," improved military training tailored to front-line needs, and integration of advanced technology into training and operational processes.
Russia and Belarus are planning to set up three training centers to jointly train soldiers, Gennady Lepeshko, the Belarusian security and defense senior official, claimed on Dec. 3, state-controlled news outlet Belta reported.
"Kosovo, Romania, and Estonia are the latest nations to join this global effort, standing united for freedom and resilience," the U.K. Defense Ministry said on X.
The shift could extend the training program by months, delaying the Ukrainian squadron's battlefield readiness even further.
On Oct. 14, Josep Borrell confirmed plans to extend the EUMAM mandate for another two years, pending approval from the EU Council.
"France is the first country to train a full-fledged Ukrainian brigade on its territory. This initiative is unparalleled in terms of the number of trained soldiers and the duration of the training," the French Embassy in Kyiv said.
The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots have completed Alpha Jet training in France, the French Armed Forces announced on Sept. 20.
Ukraine is working to improve the quality of training for its military, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on Sept. 15, and will roll out a new project in October-November.
A military training helicopter crash killed both crew members on board, the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University in Kharkiv said on Sept. 1.
Some EU member nations fear that trainings on Ukrainian soil will lead to escalated conflict with Russia, according to a document obtained by Politico.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Kyiv announced a general mobilization, thousands of Ukrainians have been called up to defend their homeland. In Ukraine, conscription is mandatory only for men. Despite that, more than 45,000 women have voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine
According to a British military handbook, Russian intelligence has shown particular interest in Operation Interflex, the U.K.-led program providing training to some 34,000 Ukrainian recruits.
A delegation of North Korean military trainers led by the head of a prestigious military academy in Pyongyang has begun a trip to Russia, North Korean state media reported on July 9.
President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered his first in-person address to German lawmakers in the Bundestag on June 11, expressing Ukraine's gratitude for Germany's support in resisting Russia's invasion.
Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova voiced support for the France-led initiative, but said that unlike Czechia, such a move is practical for France and some other countries due to their distance from Ukraine.
Key developments on June 7: * Biden announces $225 million aid package for Ukraine * Macron: France to finalize coalition to send military instructors to Ukraine * Producer of Caesar howitzers to set up branch in Ukraine * Netherlands to invest $436 million to make armored vehicles for Ukraine * Russia hit 2 oil depots
"We already know that we will not be alone, and we will use the next few days to organize a broader coalition to respond to Ukraine's request,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Christophe Lemoine, deputy spokesperson of the French Foreign Ministry, said Paris is considering how to respond to Russian embassy spokesperson Alexander Makogonov's remarks. "These are outrageous statements that will not go unanswered," he said.
The presence of French military instructors in Ukraine would be deemed a "legitimate target" of attack by Russia's Armed Forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on June 4.
"I believe that is okay to send a very clear signal that we will go to 100,000" in response to increased Russian pressure and the renewed Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.
The statement came after Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said that he had already signed documents "that will allow the first French instructors to visit training centers soon."
France is planning to send instructors to Ukraine to train the military, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on May 27 after a video meeting with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
Russia's military reported on May 17 that a blast at the Budyonny Military Academy of the Signal Corps in St. Petersburg, which injured seven servicemen, was caused by the accidental detonation of World War II-era ammunition.
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