The First Russian Brigade was encircled by loyal Russian troops in September 1917 at Camp de La Courtine and bombarded with artillery, killing eight men and wounding 28. That episode became the basis of widespread false rumours that the French had bombarded French units. The Russian troops (about ) were demobilised, transferred to labor battalions and the ringleaders were sent to North Africa in penal servitude.
In September 1917, the First Russian Brigade was besieged by loyal Russian forces at Camp de La Courtine and subjected to intense artillery fire, claiming eight lives and injuring twenty-eight others. This event led to false reports that French troops had attacked their own units. The Russian troops were subsequently disbanded, reorganized into labor battalions, and their leaders were exiled to North Africa for punishment.