The Ukrainian 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade, a newly formed military unit equipped with Western weaponry and trained in France, has suffered severe setbacks while defending Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast. The brigade, envisioned as a modernized force, has been plagued by widespread desertions, leadership issues, and heavy losses in its first deployment against advancing Russian forces.
Formed to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, the 155th Brigade was equipped with advanced German Leopard 2 tanks and French Caesar howitzers. However, during its nine months of training in France, Poland, and western Ukraine, roughly 1,700 of its 5,800 soldiers went absent without leave (AWOL). Even as of November, reports indicated that nearly 500 troops remained unaccounted for.
Soldiers of the Ukrainian 155th Mechanized Brigade. The majority of the brigade is currently abroad, training in France. #UkrainianArmy pic.twitter.com/OJIv89wcXS
— MilitaryLand.net (@Militarylandnet) November 4, 2024
A Ukrainian officer involved in the training described the program as inadequate. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” the officer told RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service.
The brigade’s commander was replaced in late 2024 following reports of disorganization. Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies are now investigating the large-scale desertions, which have significantly weakened the unit. Ukrainian war correspondent Yuriy Butusov criticized the brigade’s creation as a political decision rather than a military necessity, stating, “The leadership played with the 155th without systematically preparing it.”
Pokrovsk, a stronghold in Donetsk Oblast, has become a major target for Russian forces. Two Russian field armies, with 70,000 troops and dozens of regiments, are advancing on the city as part of a prolonged offensive. The 155th Brigade, deployed as part of Ukraine’s defense, was expected to bolster the line but instead struggled under the intense pressure.
⚡️Russian troops destroyed the #Pokrovsk stele at the entrance to the city with a guided bomb.
📷 Pokrovsk city military administration pic.twitter.com/WMAI28409U
— Denys from Kharkiv (@GlushkoDenys) January 2, 2025
Military analysts, including Lt. Col. Bohdan Krotevych of the Azov Brigade, have criticized the decision to form new brigades like the 155th instead of reinforcing veteran units. Experienced brigades, they argue, would have been better suited to handle advanced equipment and high-intensity combat.
After its initial deployment, Ukrainian commanders reassigned the remaining troops and equipment from the 155th to more experienced brigades in the Pokrovsk area. However, this adjustment comes too late to recover the unit’s substantial losses, including both personnel and equipment.
