155th Mechanized Brigade

Ukrainian Ground Forces unit yes January 2025 155th Mechanized Brigade 155 окрема механізована бригада 155th Mechanized Brigade.png 170 Shoulder sleeve insignia March 1, 2024 – present Ukraine Ukraine 25px Mechanized Infantry 5,800 Operational Command North Mala Lyubasha, Rivne Oblast Anne of Kyiv Brigade Anne of Kyiv They shall not pass Russo-Ukrainian war Pokrovsk offensive Official Facebook page Colonel Dmytro Ryumshin uk Рюмшин Дмитро Євгенович 150px Former insignia The 155th Mechanized Brigade (uk 155 окрема механізована бригада) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2024 and partially trained in France.2024-11-14 A France-trained force aims to strengthen Ukraine's defenses at a critical point in war https://apnews.com/article/france-ukraine-russian-invasion-weaponry-military-5b1a638da2c69bd4f636b136939c2195 2024-11-15 AP News en In January 2025, it became the subject of controversy after it was reported that around 1,700 members of the brigade had gone AWOL during its formation, which led to the arrest of the brigade commander.Loh Matthew Ukraine's French-trained brigade was meant to be a flagship project. Now its ex-commander is detained with a $2.1 million bail. https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-french-brigade-anne-kyiv-ryumshin-2-million-bail-2025-1 2025-04-23 Business Insider en-US History Formation The 155th Infantry Brigade was formed in 2024 as part of an initiative to expand the Ukrainian Ground Forces with the creation of nine additional brigades. This effort, announced by Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk, was a direct response to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.2024-05-10 Ukraine to create 10 new brigades to prepare for new Russian offensive https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/10/7455192/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240525195239/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/10/7455192/ 2024-05-25 2024-05-25 Ukrainska Pravda The brigade is known by the nickname "Anne of Kyiv" after the princess who married French King Henry I at Reims cathedral to become Queen of France from 1051 to 1060.Irish John November 15, 2024 Ukrainian troops train for trench warfare near France's WW1 battlefields https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-troops-train-trench-warfare-near-frances-ww1-battlefields-2024-11-15/2024-10-13 Lignes de défense – La brigade n°155 "Anne de Kiev" de l'armée ukrainienne est née en France https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/lignes-de-d%C3%A9fense/20241013-la-brigade-n%C2%B0155-anne-de-kiev-de-l-arm%C3%A9e-ukrainienne-est-n%C3%A9e-en-france 2024-10-14 RFI fr The formation of the brigade began in March 2024.Butusov Yuri 31 December 2024 Справжня історія "Анни Київської": ДБР порушило справу щодо 155-ї бригади, озброєної у Франції та кинутої під Покровськ непідготовленою, із 1700 СЗЧ The real story of "Anna of Kyiv": SBI opened a case against the 155th brigade, armed in France and thrown unprepared near Pokrovsk, with 1,700 AWOL https://novynarnia.com/2024/12/31/spravzhnya-istoriya-anny-kyyivskoyi-dbr-porushylo-spravu-shhodo-155-yi-brygady-ozbroyenoyi-u-francziyi-ta-kynutoyi-pid-pokrovsk-nepidgotovlenoyu-iz-1700-szch/ novynarnia.com uk The brigade was created under the provisions of a Ukrainian mobilization law, which lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and introduced penalties for draft evasion.Kullab Samya Kozlowska Joanna 2024-05-18 Ukraine's divisive mobilization law comes into force as a new Russian push strains front-line troops https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-mobilization-kharkiv-599753d08518b46e22bf38d1360cce86 live https://web.archive.org/web/20240525195238/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-mobilization-kharkiv-599753d08518b46e22bf38d1360cce86 2024-05-25 2024-05-25 Associated Press News The law also allowed convicts to join the armed forces. The existence of the 155th Infantry Brigade was officially acknowledged on 8 May 2024, marking it as the first of the newly announced brigades to take shape. Rivne city council supported the brigade by donating equipment to meet the soldiers' needs during its early stages of formation. Training in France and Poland The brigade was officially announced in France during the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings attended by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 6, 2024.https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/01/04/ukraine-s-anne-of-kyiv-brigade-trained-in-france-then-dispersed-to-the-front-line-suffers-setbacks_6736700_4.html Ukraine's 'Anne of Kyiv' brigade, trained in France then dispersed to the front line, suffers setbacks 4 January 2025 Le Monde By November 2024, the first wave of 2,000 soldiers had undergone training in eastern France (Camp de Châlonshttps://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ukraine/probleme-bei-in-frankreich-ausgebildeter-ukrainischer-brigade-110221333.html Probleme bei in Frankreich ausgebildeter ukrainischer Brigade 10 January 2025 FAZ.NET), with plans for the brigade to eventually grow to a strength of 4,500 troops. Its training and equipping were carried out under a European Union-funded program that had already trained 60,000 Ukrainian troops. France played a pivotal role, providing extensive training, equipment, and weaponry. This included 18 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, 18 AMX-10RC armored fighting vehicles, and 128 VAB armored personnel carriers.2024-10-09 Emmanuel Macron visite des soldats ukrainiens formés en France, Volodymyr Zelensky reçu jeudi à Paris https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20241009-macron-rencontre-des-soldats-ukrainiens-en-formation-en-france 2024-10-14 France 24 fr In October, the brigade was visited and inspected by French President Emmanuel Macron.https://apnews.com/article/france-ukraine-russia-macron-training-nato-261312057c4d8253ec2c6c4b947be089 Macron inspects Ukraine troops at a French military camp ahead of a meeting with Zelenskyy Sylvie Corbet Associated Press 9 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241203025636/https://apnews.com/article/france-ukraine-russia-macron-training-nato-261312057c4d8253ec2c6c4b947be089 3 December 2024 2 January 2025 The brigade returned to Ukraine in November, along with its integral Leopard 2A4-based tank battalion trained in Poland.January 2025 Pokrovsk offensive and desertions In November 2024,2025-01-03 Ukraine investigating French-trained brigade after reports of desertions, mismanagement https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-investigating-french-trained-brigade/ 2025-01-17 The Kyiv Independent en the 155th Brigade was deployed south of Pokrovsk to help hold positions including Shevchenko.https://censor.net/ua/resonance/3525111/sytuatsiya-pid-pokrovskom-sytuatsiya-bilya-kurahovogo Критична обстановка, яка вимагає негайних рішень: Бутусов про бої біля Покровська та Курахового censor.net It reportedly suffered heavy losses during its first few days of combat.https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-155-mechanized-brigade-france/33262437.html The Woes Of The 155th: A French-Trained Brigade's Problems Highlight Bigger Ukrainian Difficulties Yevhenia Kytaiva-Rusetska Nataliia Semenova Zoriana Stepanenko Mike Eckel Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 3 January 2025 www.rferl.org It had been split and its elements assigned to the experienced brigades fighting in the same area, the 25th Airborne Brigade and the 68th Jaeger Brigade. On 14 December, Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov uk Бутусов Юрій Євгенович brought attention to the problems within the brigade in a report on his YouTube channel, which was followed up with an article published on 31 December 2024.Barnes Joe 2 January 2025 Flagship Ukrainian brigade trained in France goes AWOL https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/02/ukrainian-soldiers-go-awol-before-shot-fired/ subscription 4 January 2025 The Daily TelegraphБолее тысячи ушли в СЗЧ. Что произошло со 155-й бригадой "Анна Киевская", которая воевала под Покровском More than a thousand went AWOL. What happened to the 155th brigade "Anne of Kyiv", which fought near Pokrovsk https://strana.today/news/476748-jurij-butusov-zajavil-o-massovom-dezertirstve-v-brihade-vsu-anna-kievskaja.html 2024-12-15 Strana.ua ruKorshak Stefan 16 December 2024 High-Profile French-Trained Ukrainian Brigade Loses Commander Days Before Going to Combat Line https://www.kyivpost.com/post/43953 https://web.archive.org/web/20241231080018/https://www.kyivpost.com/post/43953 31 December 2024 2 January 2025 Kyiv Post According to this article, the brigade had suffered from serious organizational problems since its inception. Operational Command West, responsible for the formation of the brigade, lacked the resources, manpower and command staff needed to create a new unit. The manning of the brigade started only in June, but in July and August more than 2,550 soldiers were taken away to replenish other units, effectively negating four months of work. By the time the brigade was sent to France for training in October, there were 935 instances of soldiers being AWOL, and 50 soldiers are known to have deserted in France. The latter raised questions among the French leadership, which prompted the Ukrainian Stavka to launch an investigation by the Ukrainian SBI to determine who is responsible for the desertions. As a result, the brigade commander, Colonel Dmytro Ryumshin, was removed from his post just days after returning from France on November 30 (other sources state that Ryumshin left command on December 12). While the brigade command was in France, 700 more newly recruited men stationed in Ukraine went AWOL without ever seeing their commanders. After the removal of the commander, the Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi sent a commission consisting of the OC West commander Volodymyr Shvediuk and chief of staff Oleksandr Seletsky uk Селецький Олександр Миколайович to improve the combat effectiveness of the brigade. On 30 December, Seletsky died, reportedly from a heart attack. Additional 198 men went AWOL during the first week of December. The Kyiv Post reported that by 4 January 2025, the brigade had reassigned all of its CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, most of its VAB APCs, and a portion of its Leopard 2 tanks to other Ukrainian formations.https://www.kyivpost.com/post/44997 Ukrainian Army – Finally – Admits 'Shortfalls' in High-Profile 155th Brigade Armed and Equipped by France Stefan Korshak www.kyivpost.com The Ukrainian General Staff reported on 7 January that the 155th Mechanized Brigade was conducting combat operations on the Pokrovsk front, having been reinforced with drones and additional equipment. Measures had been taken to improve discipline and reduce desertions. 2025-01-07 French-trained Ukrainian brigade receives additional reinforcements and performs tasks in full strength – General Staff https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/01/7/7492420/ Ukrainska Pravda 2025-02-08 en Major General Mykhailo Drapatiy, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, admitted on 8 January that the problems in the 155th Brigade were real, but that he was confident the brigade would become combat-effective. Korshak Stefan 2025-01-30 ANALYSIS: Ukraine's Attempt to Create Top-Quality Combat Brigades Fast Didn't Work https://www.kyivpost.com/analysis/46316 Kyiv Post 2025-02-08 en Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi visited the positions of the 155th Brigade on the Pokrovsk front on 23 January and said that the situation in the brigade was gradually improving after reports of desertions, poor command and training. Fornusek Martin 2025-01-23 Syrskyi sees 'gradual' improvement in scandal-hit French-trained brigade's capabilities https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-sees-gradual-improvement-in-scandal-ridden-155th-brigades-capabilities/ The Kyiv Independent 2025-02-08 enRomanenko Valentyna 2025-01-23 Ukraine's commander-in-chief: French-trained 155th Brigade gradually acquires combat capabilities https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/01/23/7494940/ Ukrainska Pravda 2025-02-08 en In February 2025 the 155th Brigade was still deployed south of Pokrovsk.Kuzakov Andriy Kushnir Maryan 2025-02-26 Roiled By Desertions And Scandal, Can Ukraine's French-Trained 155th Brigade Redeem Itself? https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-france-brigade-desertions/33328498.html Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 2025-03-18 en In an interview on 5 March an officer of the Brigade claimed that they continued to hold the north-western part of Shevchenko and that the Russians were unable to break through the Ukrainian defences due to the significant losses inflicted by the brigade.Tsuba Valeriia Gusiev Glib 2025-03-05 The Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to stabilize the front near Pokrovsk. What is happening there? Babel asked the commanders of three units that are located in this direction https://babel.ua/en/texts/115955-the-armed-forces-of-ukraine-are-trying-to-stabilize-the-front-near-pokrovsk-what-is-happening-there-babel-asked-the-commanders-of-three-units-that-are-located-in-this-direction babel.ua 2025-03-18 en By 14 March, Ukrainian forces had reportedly gradually regained control of settlements near Pokrovsk, with the 155th Brigade supporting the 425th Separate Assault Regiment in recapturing part, if not most, of Shevchenko.Query Alexander 2025-03-14 Putin Claims Victory Over Donbas While Ukraine Gains Ground https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/putin-claims-victory-over-donbas-while-ukraine-gains-ground-6741 United24 2025-03-18 en Arrest of Commander On 20 January 2025, former brigade commander Dmytro Ryumshin was detained by the SBI and charged with inaction of the military authorities committed under martial law, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years. The SBI stated that Ryumshin failed to inform law enforcement authorities of a significant number of AWOL cases and didn't take measures to prevent them. In particular, the colonel unreasonably included unmotivated men in the lists of persons scheduled for training in France, some of whom were previously detained for trying to illegally cross the border of Ukraine.Ланчуковська Тетяна 2025-01-20 ОГП: Затримано екскомандира 155 бригади ЗСУ, який допустив масове СЗЧ підлеглими OGP: Ex-commander of 155th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine detained for allowing massive AWOL by subordinates https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/ohp-zatrymano-ekskomandyra-155-bryhady-zsu-iakyy-dopustyv-masove-szch-pidlehlymy 2025-01-20 LIGA uk On 6 February 2025, Ryumshin's bail was reduced from 90 million hryvnias (2,160,980 USD) to 50 million hryvnias (US$1,200,540).https://babel.ua/en/news/115166-former-commander-of-the-155th-brigade-ryumshyn-was-kept-in-custody-but-bail-was-reduced Former commander of the 155th brigade Ryumshyn was kept in custody, but bail was reduced 6 February 2025 babel.ua Beating of Serhiy Malenko On 1 May 2026, a serviceman of the 210th Battalion named Anatoly Rudenko verbally mocked a soldier from the 155th Brigade named Serhiy Malenko before pulling him out of formation and beating him until he fell unconscious.https://www.slidstvo.info/news/ty-nohy-kombata-maiesh-tsiluvaty-khto-pobyv-viyskovoho-zi-155-oi-bryhady/ «Ти ноги комбата маєш цілувати»: Хто побив військового зі 155-ї бригади? (ОНОВЛЕНО) 7 May 2026 12 May 2026 Slidstvo Ukrainian According to investigators, Rudenko also tied up Malenko and continued to beat him while he was still unconscious. Malenko was later hospitalized with a closed head injury, concussion, bruises, and multiple hematomas.https://militaryland.net/article/155th-brigade-soldiers-report-abuse-after-transfer-to-skelya-command/ 155th Brigade Soldiers Report Abuse After Transfer to Skelya Command 11 May 2026 12 May 2026 militaryland.net The victim lost consciousness during the assault. Investigators allege the attacker then restrained the serviceman’s hands with plastic ties and continued beating him while he was incapacitated, delivering multiple punches and kicks to the head and face. The soldier was later hospitalized with a closed head injury, concussion, bruises, and multiple hematomas. A video of the beating was uploaded online on 4 May 2026. In the video, Rudenko strikes a tied up Malenko in the head while a dozen other soldiers lined up in formation watch.https://www.slidstvo.info/news/ty-nohy-kombata-maiesh-tsiluvaty-khto-pobyv-viyskovoho-zi-155-oi-bryhady/ «Ти ноги комбата маєш цілувати»: Хто побив військового зі 155-ї бригади? (ОНОВЛЕНО) 7 May 2026 12 May 2026 Slidstvo Ukrainian 4 травня в соцмережах з’явилось відeо, на якому один військовий бʼє іншого руками і ногами по обличчю і голові. При цьому в чоловіка, який лежить на землі, зв’язані руки. За побиттям спостерігає з десяток вишикуваних у стрій бійців. Rudenko then Malenko tells to kiss the feet of the 210th Battalion's commander.https://www.slidstvo.info/news/ty-nohy-kombata-maiesh-tsiluvaty-khto-pobyv-viyskovoho-zi-155-oi-bryhady/ «Ти ноги комбата маєш цілувати»: Хто побив військового зі 155-ї бригади? (ОНОВЛЕНО) 7 May 2026 12 May 2026 Slidstvo Ukrainian Чоловік, який наносить удари, каже: «Ти живий завдяки йому, ти знаєш, чим ти завдячуєш комбату? Життям. Та ти його ноги повинен цілувати. Відчуй, що таке війна». According to Malenko's sister, Malenko was later was doing construction work at a training ground between May 2 and May 4 despite having a concussion and that he only received medical aid on May 4 after the video of the beating went public.https://www.slidstvo.info/news/ty-nohy-kombata-maiesh-tsiluvaty-khto-pobyv-viyskovoho-zi-155-oi-bryhady/ «Ти ноги комбата маєш цілувати»: Хто побив військового зі 155-ї бригади? (ОНОВЛЕНО) 7 May 2026 12 May 2026 Slidstvo Ukrainian «Це неправда, що йому надали допомогу одразу. Йому її тільки надали, коли я приїхала. А його побили 1 травня. У нього струс мозку. Тобто 2, 3 і 4 травня він ще працював на будівництві (ймовірно йдеться про фортифікаційні споруди для навчань на полігоні, — ред.), і тільки 4-го, коли стався розголос, коли я розповсюджувала відео з його побиттям скрізь, йому надали допомогу», — каже жінка. On 7 May 2026, Security Service of Ukraine reported that they had detained Rudenko in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.https://www.slidstvo.info/news/ty-nohy-kombata-maiesh-tsiluvaty-khto-pobyv-viyskovoho-zi-155-oi-bryhady/ «Ти ноги комбата маєш цілувати»: Хто побив військового зі 155-ї бригади? (ОНОВЛЕНО) 7 May 2026 12 May 2026 Slidstvo Ukrainian Державне бюро розслідувань вже затримало його на Дніпропетровщині. За їхніми словами, «він мав найнижче військове звання». Murder of civilians and arrest of another commander In July 2026, nine members of the brigade, including a battalion commander, were arrested on suspicion of abducting and murdering two civilians from Kyiv Oblast. Stanislav Luchanov, former chief of staff of the 425th Assault Regiment, who was appointed the brigade commander in February 2026 and allegedly ordered the murders, went AWOL and was detained on 13 July. The Operational Command North reported that he was removed from his post.Вбивство 2 цивільних: екскомбрига 155 ОМБр Лучанова затримали Murder of 2 civilians: ex-commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade Luchanov detained https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/07/13/8043865/ 2026-07-13 Українська правда ukОК "Північ" підтвердило інформацію про розшук командира 155-ї ОМБр Operational Command "North" confirmed information that the commander of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade is wanted. https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/07/11/8043597/ 2026-07-13 Українська правда ukКомбрига 155-ї бригади переводять у корпус, на його місце прийде начштабу "Скелі" https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/02/11/8020561/ 2026-04-24 Ukrainska Pravda uk Structure January 2025 The brigade's structure was as follows: 155th Mechanized Brigade Brigade's Headquarters 1st Mechanized Battalion 2nd Mechanized Battalion 3rd Mechanized Battalion 1st Motorized Battalion 1st Rifle Battalion Tank Battalion Drone Battalion Manticora Reconnaissance Company Artillery Group Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion Engineer Battalion CBRN Protection Company Medical Company Logistic Battalion Maintenance Battalion Radar Company Signal Company See also 156th Mechanized Brigade 157th Mechanized Brigade 158th Mechanized Brigade 159th Mechanized Brigade 160th Mechanized Brigade References Category:Mechanized brigades of Ukraine Category:Military units and formations established in 2024 Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Category:2024 establishments in Ukraine