Ukraine's Once Maligned 155th Mech Has Redeemed Itself Defending Pokrovsk

Ukraine's 155th Mechanized Brigade was created to add another major unit to the nation's army. Trained and largely equipped by France, it was named for Anne of Kyiv, a Ukrainian princess who became a French queen.

That was the good news. When it returned to Ukraine, it suffered a number of debilitating scandals and leadership failures, which resulted in as much of a third of its troops deserting. But rather than disbanding it, Ukraine's high command stepped in, provided new, battle-tested leaders and improved training. It was then sent to arguably the most difficult sector, Pokrovsk, where, a year later, it has won plaudits for its stalwart performance in turning back the relentless Russian assault on that city. The lesson is to never give up on your troops. JL

Decimus reports in Daily Kos:

A redemption story. The much ballyhooed Ukrainian 155th Mechanized brigade trained in France to become an emblem of best French and NATO military standards began to fall apart as soon as they got back to Ukraine, even before they got to the battlefield. Following reports of desertions, poor command, and mismanagement, steps were taken to stabilize the unit. In January 2025, it was publicly acknowledged that the brigade was facing serious challenges. (But) by March 2025, the brigade was holding positions near Pokrovsk and contributing to Ukrainian advances. By year's end it had become one of the stalwart Ukrainian units standing against the Russians at Pokrovsk

A Redemption Story from the most grueling front to date, in the unrelenting carnage of the Russo-Ukrainian War … a place called Pokrovsk. It is the story of how a once maligned Ukrainian fighting force righted itself, went into the belly of the beast and has now, by all indications, “covered itself in glory” … to use the vernacular of the American Civil War.

It is also the story of a much ballyhooed Ukrainian brigade trained in France to become the very best and an emblem of French and NATO military standards. They even received a fanfare-filled farewell attended by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, himself ... only to fall apart as soon as they got back home to Ukraine. They somehow quickly fell apart before they even got to the battlefield. The much beloved unit named after Anne of Kyiv, the 11th-century Kyivan princess who became Queen of France, and was created with significant support from France, had rather become the emblem of all that was deemed wrong with Ukraine’s military.  It was a stunning fall for a formation from which so much was expected. So much invested hope and expectations suddenly dashed. For most of the world, this is also how they initially came to know about the soldiers of the 155th Separate Mechanized “Anne of Kyiv” Brigade of Ukraine:

Roiled By Desertions And Scandal, Can Ukraine's French-Trained 155th Brigade Redeem Itself?

The French-trained 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine's armed forces will only have existed for a year this coming spring. It is already well-known for all the wrong reasons.

Wracked by desertions and what one war correspondent called "complete organizational chaos," the unit has become a byword for doubts about the feasibility of pursuing a NATO-style remodeling of Ukraine's military while facing down Russia's full-scale, three-year invasion.

www.rferl.org/...

So what is an Army Commander-in-Chief to do? 

 

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, decided to take an active central role in the reform of the 155th Mechanized Brigade, overseeing and directing its recovery after the crisis. 

Following widespread reports of desertions, poor command, and mismanagement … particularly after the brigade’s commander, Colonel Dmytro Ryumshin, was dismissed … Syrskyi took decisive steps to stabilize the unit. On January 23, 2025, he publicly acknowledged that the brigade was facing serious challenges and confirmed that he had ordered reinforcements with drones and additional equipment to strengthen its combat capabilities.  He specifically emphasized improving the unmanned systems unit, a key area of focus for modern battlefield effectiveness. 

Syrskyi also dispatched a high-level commission to Pokrovsk, led by Volodymyr Shvediuk (commander, Operations West) and Oleksandr Seletsky (chief of staff), to assess and improve the brigade’s readiness.  This commission operated under Syrskyi’s direct authority, and the commander-in-chief visited the brigade’s front-line positions later in January 2025 to monitor progress. 

Despite the initial chaos … including 1,700 desertions before the brigade even fired its first shot … Syrskyi stated that the situation was "gradually improving".  By early March 2025, the brigade was reported to be holding positions near Pokrovsk and contributing to Ukrainian advances, including the recapture of parts of Shevchenko. 

New insignia. with Fleurs de Lis of France

And so it is that today, the 155th, now reformed, with a new insignia as part of the 21st Army Corps, has become one of the stalwart Ukrainian formations standing unyielding against the relentless Russian onslaught at Pokrovsk. And doing so with exceptional bravery and precision.AFU captures three enemy assault troops in Pokrovsk

Fighters of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade took three Russian assault troops prisoner in the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region.

The movement of the group of invaders was detected by aerial reconnaissance. The command of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade launched an operation to neutralize the enemy, providing cover for their soldiers and controlling the process with the help of drones.

www.ukrinform.net/…

"Those who wanted to run away, ran away. Those who wanted to stay, stayed," Indeed.