“I’d better go to the SZCH. If I am caught, the prison door will open sooner or later, but the coffin lid will not”: soldier of the 155th brigade

The difficulties faced by newly formed units at the front are often glossed over to the general public. However, the case with the 155th separate mechanized brigade named after Anna of Kyiv, which is fighting near Pokrovsk, became a kind of mirror of the problems accompanying the process of formation and functioning of such units during the period of active hostilities. Journalist Yuriy Butusov drew attention to this brigade by presenting facts that cause serious concern.

This brigade, created with high expectations and named after the historical figure of Anna of Kyiv, was to become an example of new approaches to the organization of the Ukrainian armed forces. But in fact, her path turned out to be full of trials. Even before the first battle, the unit lost more than a thousand soldiers who voluntarily left the unit. The commander of the brigade was fired, and one of the leaders responsible for its creation died of a heart attack.

This situation did not go unnoticed by law enforcement agencies. The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into the articles of abuse of power and desertion. At the same time, Radio Svoboda succeeded to chat with the officer who was involved in the formation of the brigade, as well as with the serviceman of this unit. It shed light on large-scale problems such as mass desertion (ASU) and command incompetence.

The man explained that he was not a military personnel. At one time, he graduated from the military department, but, according to him, his studies there were almost formal in nature.

“Since I had a higher education, I was immediately assigned the rank of junior officer,” he said.

He was sent to the engineering support unit of the brigade, where he assumed the position of platoon commander. The majority of the personnel of the brigade consisted of mobilized men who had undergone a course of basic military training, while he himself did not attend this course due to his officer rank.

“Guys who were ordinary soldiers were taken to general basic training every day. I did not go through it. I approached the commanders and asked: will you train us? I understand that people were recruited and put in uniform, but I cannot take I was told that I would be sent to France for training.

Preparations, as I imagined for the third year of the war, whatever it should be, there is none. I, for one, do not know what I should do. I am not ready to set up and execute some commands with untrained people, plus I am untrained myself. I should have about 30 people under my command. I’m not ready to risk their lives.” he said.

According to him, training in France lasted a month, but it did not provide the officer with the necessary knowledge and skills.

“We were in conditions similar to prisons. The territory where we lived was completely fenced. The French patrolled it with dogs, they launched drones at night. The fence was with barbed wire. To be honest, if we were not monitored like in a prison, then half would run away

In France, I was taught absolutely nothing. Those who had already been assigned to certain positions on the “staff” were taken there. What was shown on TV, that somewhere on the training ground they were running, shooting, this, in principle, happened, but it seems to me that this preparation is a little insufficient, considering how much money was spent on it.” he shared.

The military claims that even in such conditions, more than half a hundred soldiers escaped from the camp. According to him, after returning to Ukraine, the situation only worsened.

“I’d rather go to the SZCH. If I get caught, the prison door will open sooner or later, but the coffin lid won’t. We have to find an approach to people. Provide them with appropriate training. But it turns out that everyone is silent, some command comes from above, and it must be fulfilled.

Everything Butusov wrote about is true. There are only some nuances that are not in the article, because the person who gave him the information did not have all the details. In fact, the situation with the formation of the brigade was even worse than described,” – the officer noted.

The military serviceman, who is now in the status of the SZH, says that after his return from France, part of the brigade was already stationed near Pokrovsk, despite obvious organizational problems.

“An order came to transfer to the infantry, after which a lot of people decided to leave the unit. Three days later we were sent to Dnipropetrovsk region, and the next day we received an order to move to a settlement 20 kilometers from the front line. My commander wrote to me: “Gather dev “Hey guys, tomorrow you’re going to a specific place.” I asked him what the task would be. He said, “I don’t know.” This illustrates how unprofessional there was a command, but people remained without proper training” – says the serviceman.

His testimony emphasizes the scale of the problems that arise during the formation and functioning of new units.

We will remind, according to journalist Yuriy Butusov, by November 2024, more than 1,700 servicemen from the 155th brigade left for the SZCh.

The situation with the 155th Anna of Kyiv Brigade illustrates the deeper systemic flaws that must be addressed to ensure the effective operation of the Ukrainian armed forces in the face of the enemy. This story raises important questions about the responsibility, leadership and training on which the lives of those on the front lines depend.