The French military has acknowledged reports of desertions among Ukrainian soldiers trained in France but insists the numbers are minimal given the scale of the training program.
The remarks come amid concerns over discipline issues in Ukraine’s Anne of Kyiv Brigade, a unit formed to bolster defenses against potential Russian offensives.
“There have been a certain number of desertions, but they remain very marginal given the volume of people who have undergone training,” a French army official told AFP.
Between late 2022 and 2023, France hosted 2,300 Ukrainian soldiers for training under a program designed to strengthen Kyiv’s military capabilities.
The soldiers, part of the Anne of Kyiv Brigade—named after a Kyiv-born princess who married French King Henri I in the 11th century—were primarily conscripts with no prior combat experience.
They were accompanied by 300 Ukrainian supervisors, while an additional 2,200 members of the brigade were trained in Ukraine.
The French training sessions were reportedly tailored to Ukraine’s needs, focusing on equipment use and operational skills.
“The training had been in line with the Ukrainians’ wishes, in terms of ‘equipment’ and ‘training time,'” the French official said, adding that no issues of abuse of power or mistreatment had surfaced during the training in France.
However, concerns about the brigade’s discipline emerged earlier this week when Ukrainian Land Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty admitted to “problems” within the unit.
Drapaty’s remarks followed reports by prominent Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov, who claimed in December that 1,700 soldiers had deserted from the brigade without seeing combat. Butusov also alleged that 50 soldiers deserted while undergoing training in France.
Asked about these reports, Drapaty refrained from outright denial, stating, “I will not refute it.” While acknowledging that “a number of the facts that were presented did take place,” he suggested that the scale of desertions might not be as extensive as reported.
The French military clarified its stance on desertion, highlighting jurisdictional limitations on its soil. “We don’t criminalize desertion in France,” the French official explained.
“If someone deserted, a French prosecutor had no authority to arrest that individual. And the right granted to the Ukrainian authorities on French soil is just a disciplinary right.”
According to the official, the Ukrainian soldiers were subject to a disciplinary regime overseen by their own command.
“They were in French barracks; they had the right to go out,” the official noted, emphasizing that the Ukrainian authorities had disciplinary oversight over the trainees.
Despite the concerns, the French military maintained confidence in the overall success of the training program. The Anne of Kyiv Brigade was one of several units formed last year as Ukraine ramped up efforts to counter potential Russian advances.
While the Ukrainian command works to address the reported issues, Drapaty’s acknowledgment of the brigade’s challenges underscores the complexities of rapidly training a wartime army. France, for its part, continues to affirm its support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
