Ukraine has launched a criminal investigation into desertion and "abuse of power" since hundreds of soldiers are reported to have fled from a military unit that was partially trained by France.
The brigade was one of several military groups formed last year when Ukraine tried to prepare for new potential Russian offensives.
The group was supposed to consist of 4,500 soldiers, and France was to train and provide weapons to half of them. However, the military unit was plagued by problems, and its leadership has been accused of being inadequate.
A journalist reported in December that 1,700 soldiers had left the brigade without going into battle and that 50 had escaped during their training in France.
The investigation is ongoing. It's too early to talk about any preliminary results, says Tetiana Sapian, spokesperson for Ukraine's state investigation bureau.
