Overview

• The Ukrainian army has opened an investigation into the 155th Mechanized Brigade 'Anne de Kiev' over allegations of corruption, including extortion by its commander, Colonel Taras Maksimov.
• Approximately 1,200 soldiers have abandoned their posts since 2025, severely impacting the brigade's operational capacity, which originally consisted of fewer than 5,000 troops.
• The unit, trained and equipped by France as a symbol of military modernization, has been plagued by chronic equipment shortages, particularly drones, and morale issues.
• Colonel Maksimov is accused of running a kickback scheme, extorting payments from subordinates in exchange for falsified frontline combat bonuses.
• This latest scandal follows earlier leadership changes and arrests, including the January detention of another commander for abuse of power and desertion.