A newly trained Ukrainian brigade, named the Anne of Kyiv Brigade, is set to join the fight against Russian forces after completing a two-month training program in France. The brigade, comprising over 2,000 soldiers, was prepared by the French Army’s Champagne task force and equipped with advanced French-supplied weaponry.
#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 x 🇫🇷
The first brigade of the 🇺🇦 trained and equipped in France has completed its training.
Trained by the 🇫🇷 army at the request of the Ukrainian army as part of #EUMAM Ukraine, the Anne de Kyiv brigade illustrates France’s resolute support to @DefenceU pic.twitter.com/M80XBUC2ZF— The 🇫🇷 Joint Staff – Military operations (@FrenchForces) November 15, 2024
The Anne of Kyiv Brigade underwent comprehensive training in eastern and southern France, focusing on trench warfare, battlefield coordination, and the use of modern weaponry. The training simulated real combat scenarios, including drone operations, defensive maneuvers, and coordinated attacks. French military officials noted that the soldiers, many of whom arrived with minimal training, showed significant improvement in their ability to maneuver and operate their equipment.
The brigade’s arsenal includes 18 AMX-10 light tanks, Caesar artillery systems, 128 armored troop carriers, and advanced anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. French officials have confirmed that the unit will eventually grow to 4,500 members, including specialists such as engineers and artillery teams.
⚡️Another video from the exercises of the newly created 🇺🇦Ukrainian brigade of Anna Kyivska in 🇫🇷France. According to reports, this brigade will be equipped exclusively with French equipment
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) October 10, 2024
The brigade’s deployment comes as Russian forces intensify their offensive in eastern Ukraine. Moscow has reinforced its troops in the Donbas region and near the Kursk border, reportedly with the support of thousands of North Korean soldiers. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to defend key strategic areas such as Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, which remains a primary target for Russian shelling due to its logistical importance.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu emphasized the importance of France’s contribution, calling the training a “practical model” of support. Ukrainian Ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko praised the partnership, noting that the collaboration benefited both nations, with French forces learning from the combat experience of Ukrainian veterans.
