About 1,700 soldiers from a Ukrainian unit equipped by the West and trained in France went AWOL before a shot was even fired.
At least 50 members of the new 155th mechanised brigade, one of the few to operate the Leopard 2 battle tank, disappeared while elements of the unit were being drilled in France.
By the time it entered battle for the first time, at least 1,700 of its troops went absent without leave at numerous points.
They were trained by the French.
