French mission to bolster Ukrainian defences against Russian invasion end

The group of 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers known as the 'Anne of Kyiv' brigade, which has undergone two months of intense military training in eastern and southern France, is being put through its final paces before returning to Ukraine.

Once deployed, the French-trained brigade could prove to be a formidable force on the battlefield. It will eventually comprise 4,500 troops formed of infantry battalions, engineers, artillery teams and other specialists, French authorities have said.

The majority of Ukrainian fighters were recently mobilised and previously had only a few weeks of basic training before their arrival in France in September, the French military said.

It said the Ukrainian military is also training other troops for the brigade in Ukraine.

The French military dedicated about 1,500 soldiers to the 'Champagne' task force assigned to teaching the Ukrainians how to fight effectively together and how to use and maintain their France-supplied weaponry.

It said the brigade's arsenal will include 18 AMX 10 light tanks, 18 truck-mounted Caesar artillery pieces, 128 armoured troop carriers, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems, plus other weaponry and equipment.

With observation drones buzzing overhead and amid clouds of smoke and bursts of gunfire and explosions, the Ukrainian soldiers conducted exercises this week at a French military training camp, showing how they have learned to defend and storm a complex of trenches like those on the battlefronts in Ukraine.

The French military wouldn’t allow visiting journalists to interview the Ukrainians. French officers involved in the training said the troops are now better prepared for combat that they are likely to experience in the months ahead.

''They have improved a lot,''