A French military taskforce is concluding its mission of training a new brigade of Ukrainian soldiers, who will soon be deployed in the fight against Russia’s invasion. Known as “Champagne,” the taskforce has been instructing several thousand Ukrainian troops, equipping them with French-supplied tanks, artillery, and other heavy weaponry.
The brigade, named after the 11th-century Kyiv princess Anne of Kyiv, is set to return to Ukraine after more than two months of intense training in southern and eastern France. Their deployment comes at a crucial moment in the war, as Russian forces push westward to capture the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
The shifting political landscape, particularly the reelection of Donald Trump, has raised uncertainties regarding future U.S. support for Ukraine, as Trump has suggested that Kyiv might need to concede territory to Russia for peace.
Once deployed, the brigade will consist of 4,500 soldiers, including infantry, engineers, artillery teams, and other specialists. Over 2,000 soldiers are completing their final training before returning to Ukraine, having undergone basic training before joining the French course in September. Additionally, other soldiers are being trained within Ukraine itself.
The French military has committed approximately 1,500 of its own personnel to the taskforce, ensuring Ukrainian troops are proficient in using and maintaining the French weaponry. The brigade will be equipped with 18 AMX 10 light tanks, 18 Caesar artillery pieces mounted on trucks, 128 armored personnel carriers, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems, and additional weaponry.
During recent exercises, the soldiers demonstrated their ability to storm and defend trench systems similar to those on the frontlines in Ukraine, under the watch of French officers. These final drills are intended to ensure the Ukrainian soldiers are fully prepared for the combat they will face in the coming months.
