115th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

The 115th Mechanized Brigade (Ukrainian: 115-та окрема механізована бригада) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022.[1]

115th Mechanized Brigade
115-та окрема механізована бригада
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
ActiveMarch 1, 2022 - Current
Country Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
RoleMechanized Infantry
Garrison/HQCherkasy Oblast
Motto(s)Народжені вогнем
(English: Born of fire)
EngagementsRussian invasion of Ukraine
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/115ombr
Commanders
Current
commander
Ihor Ivanov
Insignia
Subdued patch

History

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The brigade was created at the beginning of March 2022 during the first weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the village of Blahodatne in Cherkasy Oblast.[2] On April 3, its first deployment for a combat mission started in Kreminna, then from May to July the brigade fought in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, Siversk, Marinka and Avdiivka.[2][3]

The 115th Mechanised Brigade had newly arrived at the small town of Ocheretyne in April 2024. According to Mykola Melnyk, a 47th Mechanized Brigade company commander, they left their positions without permission, which led to a breakthrough by the Russians within 48 hours.[4] Ukrainian media reported on 23 April 2024 that the army leadership in Kyiv had launched an investigation to find out the reason for the mass exodus.[citation needed] On 2 May 2024, the brigade denied responsibility for the defeat at the Battle of Ocheretyne with the press service of the brigade going onto say that: "The accusations made by Roman Pohorily (the founder of DeepStateMap.Live) are false. Who is guilty or not guilty is determined exclusively by the commission based on the results of the investigation."[5] The brigade later claimed that it had killed "a huge number of Russian troops" and "firmly stated" that "no regular unit of the 115th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine abandoned their positions and fled, as claimed by Russian media, but heroically held the defence."[6] The brigade also accused Deepstate and its founder Roman Pohorily, of "defaming the honor and dignity of the 115th Mechanized Brigade, as well as devaluing the lives of fallen soldiers."[7] The brigade was then transferred from the Pokrovsk axis to participate in the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk. On 15 August 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces killed 340 members of the brigade and retook the town of Krupets.[8][9][10][11]

Structure

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As of 2024 the brigade's structure is as follows:[2]

  • 115th Mechanized Brigade, Cherkasy Oblast
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Mechanized Battalion
    • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
    • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
  •   20th Separate Rifle Battalion (A7104)[12]
  •   44th Separate Rifle Battalion (A4049)[13][14]
    • Tank Battalion
    • Anti-Tank Guided Missiles Artillery Battery
    • Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery
    • Anti-Tank Artillery Battery
    • Artillery Division
    • Sniper Platoon
    • Reconnaissance Company
    • 37th Reserve Company
    • Engineer Battalion
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Signal Company
    • Maintenance Battalion
    • Radar Company
    • Medical Company
    • CBRN Protection Company

References

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  1. ^ "Volodymyr Zelensky: I want to dedicate this address to those who have been bravely standing for 200 days, being the exact reason why Ukraine stands". odessa-journal.com. 2022-09-11. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  2. ^ a b c "115 отдельная механизированная бригада (А4053, 115 ОМехБр)". wartears.org (in Ukrainian). 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  3. ^ Kesaieva, Julia; Lister, Tim; Tarasova, Darya; Haq, Sana Noor (2022-07-17). "Bloody battle for control rages in eastern Ukraine as Russia struggles to gain ground in Donetsk". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  4. ^ Axe, David. "A Ukrainian Brigade Disappeared, And A Russian Brigade Almost Broke Through: How The Battle For Ocheretyne Upended The War In Ukraine This Weekend". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  5. ^ "The 115th brigade denies its responsibility for the collapse of the defense of Ocheretyne". babel.ua. May 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Ukraine's 115th Mechanised Brigade reveals how it defended Ocheretyne from intense Russian advance". Ukrainska Pravda.
  7. ^ "The collapse of the defense of Ocheretyne: the DeepState project responded to the accusations of the command of the 115th brigade". babel.ua. May 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "Kursk direction: Krupets was liberated, 340 militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 19 armored vehicles were destroyed". EADaily. August 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Ukraine claims control of 82 settlements in Kursk region, including town of Sudzha". August 15, 2024 – via Le Monde.
  10. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-to-send-additional-troops-to-defend-border-regions-as-ukraine-claims-another-town-1.7295157
  11. ^ "Ukraine sets up military office in Russia as incursion grows". www.bbc.com.
  12. ^ "20th Rifle Battalion".
  13. ^ "44th Rifle Battalion".
  14. ^ Natalia Balyukh (8 February 2024). "Кличко передав партію дронів військовим 44-го Окремого стрілецького батальйону ЗСУ" [Klitschko handed over a batch of drones to the soldiers of the 44th Separate Rifle Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ucraine] (in Ukrainian).