Ukraine’s 125th Brigade: From 2 Pickups to a Fighting Force

A year ago, Ukraine’s 125th Territorial Defense Brigade had almost nothing: two pickups and a minibus made up its entire fleet. Officers say they were told the brigade could not be saved. Today, the brigade has grown its personnel by 430 percent and recovered 1,500 soldiers who had been absent without leave (AWOL) — troops who left their posts without permission. The unit has also won back ground in heavy fighting. The turnaround shows how a struggling unit can rebuild itself. The brigade’s commanders focused on recruitment, tracking down absent soldiers, and restoring trust. The 125th now fights as a full combat brigade. The story offers a rare look at how Ukraine is trying to solve two of its hardest problems: finding enough soldiers and bringing back those who have left.