154th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

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commanderColonel Oleksandr Shcherbina^{[citation needed]}

The 154th Separate Mechanized Brigade (Ukrainian: 154 окрема механізована бригада, romanized: 154 okrema mekhanizovana bryhada), is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed on 10 October 2023. It was part of the creation of four other brigades to expand the Ukrainian Ground Forces in response to the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine and is expected to participate in a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2024. The unit was officially announced on 1 November 2023, being designated a commander, and its military commander.^[3]

The brigade was announced in mid-October 2023, alongside the creation of five new mechanized brigades as part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces - accounting for a five percent expansion of the Ground Forces.^[1] By 1 November 2023, it was reported that the brigade had already received a military unit identification number, and was in the stage of formation.^[2]

The unit is expected to participate in combat actions in the following year, as well as the anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2024.^[1] As well as their potential participation in the upcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive in the following year, it was reported that the 154th Mechanized Brigade could strengthen Ukrainian defenses across the frontline - predominantly in eastern Ukraine to ensure the relief and rotation for depleted units deployed there.^[2]

In an article by Forbes, it is unclear where the brigade will acquire its equipment and vehicles that would consider itself as a mechanized brigade - rather than a light infantry brigade.^[2] It was also mentioned that the brigade was expected to most probably not receive any modern fighting vehicles from foreign aid - such as KTO Rosomak "Wolverine's" from Poland. Instead, it was reported that the unit would most probably have to make do with old, vulnerable, and plentiful vehicles stockpiled in the Ukrainian Armed Force's arsenal - composed of BMPs or MT-LB armored tractors and trucks.^[1]

The brigade, much like other newly created mechanized brigades such as the 150th Mechanized Brigade, utilise older variants of the Kalashnikov rifle series such as the AKM and AKMS.^[4] The brigade has also been seen with other Western styled small arms such as an AR-15 styled rifle in a video published by the brigade, this has been used alongside other weapons such as the PKM, and the M240B seen in the same publication by the brigade.^[5] Other machine guns such as the RPK has been seen in use by the brigade.^[6]

As of May 2024, the brigade utilizes the following small arms:

• AKM - Soviet/Russian assault rifle
• RPK - Soviet/Russian light machine gun
• AR-15 - American semi-automatic rifle
• PKM - Soviet/Russian general-purpose machine gun
• M240B - American general-purpose machine gun

According to Forbes, it was reported that a video belonging to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense alluded towards the 154th Mechanized Brigade receiving captured and older Soviet-era model tanks such as the T-62.^[7] The brigade has also been seen to have the BRDM-2 amphibious scout car in service around March 2024.^[4] Another publication of the brigade saw the unit in possession of a single CV-90, a Swedish armored vehicle, indicating that some of the newly created brigades have received highly sophisticated weapon systems from Western nations.^[5] The brigade also has a BMP-1 in its inventory.^[8] On 10 September 2024, David Axe from Forbes reported that the majority of the Brigade's vehicles are from the early 1960s and 1970s.^[9]

As of May 2024, the brigade operates the following vehicles:

• T-62 - Soviet main battle tank
• BRDM-2 - Soviet amphibious armored scout car
• BMP-1 - Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle
• 2S1 Gvozdika - Soviet self-propelled howitzer
• CV90 - Swedish infantry fighting vehicle
• VAB - French armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle

The 154th Mechanized Brigade was reported to be formed in anticipation of a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2024, as well as to bolster Ukrainian defenses in eastern Ukraine to relieve depleted units deployed there.^[1][2] It currently has not seen any combat action. The command of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, presented the new 154th Mechanized Brigade as a subordinate to the Southern Operational Command.^[3]

As of October 2023, the structure of the brigade is as follows:

• 154th Separate Mechanized Brigade
  • Brigade's Headquarters
  • 1st Mechanized Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
  • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
  • Tank Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Artillery Group
  • Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Signal Company
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Radar Company
  • Medical Company
  • Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear Protection Company