Col. Dmytro Ryumshin was replaced as the commander of Ukraine’s 155th Mechanized Brigade shortly after its training in France and just before it entered combat, amid reports of significant issues within the unit. The brigade, formed in mid-2024 and equipped with advanced French military hardware, faced challenges including high desertion rates, with claims of nearly 1,000 soldiers leaving due to a lack of motivation among forcibly recruited personnel. Criticism from military journalist Yuriy Butusov highlighted the disorganization and inadequate support from the Defense Ministry, which failed to provide essential equipment, leaving soldiers to rely on personal resources and volunteer groups. Following Ryumshin’s dismissal, Colonel Taras Maksymov took over command as the brigade prepared for deployment in the conflict.

Editor’s Note: The Ukraine conflict increasingly raises alarms about the potential for a broader global confrontation, with many analysts warning that it could spiral into World War III [Read more about this here: Trump’s Contradictory Ukraine Strategy: Peace or Prolonged Conflict?, Courting WW3: Ukraine Fires UK-Supplied Storm Shadow Missiles at Russia, Ukraine’s Struggle: A Pawn in Geopolitical Games Amid Waning Support].

While the Ukrainian government and its allies frame this war as a noble struggle for democracy, there is a growing disconnect between leadership and the will of the people, who are increasingly questioning the purpose of this protracted battle.

If this was really a fight for democracy, then why are Ukrainians deserting the front lines?

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