Russian Sources Claim Ukraine’s 129th Brigade Sends Women to Front-Line Tasks After Desertions

Overview

• RIA Novosti reports that commanders of Ukraine’s 129th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade have deployed women as drivers to forward positions on the Kharkiv direction due to alleged mass male desertions.
• A prior RIA account stated that at least eight Ukrainian brigades and border guard detachments are concentrated on the Hatne sector in Kharkiv Oblast.
• Those formations were described by the Russian sources as demoralized, with many personnel surrendering.
• The Russian narrative challenges Kraken commander Konstantin Nemichev’s claim that Ukrainian forces lack a permanent presence on that front.
• Both items were published by state-affiliated RIA Novosti based on unnamed Russian security-service sources, with no independent corroboration in the articles.