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44th Mechanized Brigade

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44th Mechanized Brigade
44 окрема механізована бригада
44 okrema mekhanizovana bryhada
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active2 March 2023 - present
Country Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
Type Mechanized Infantry
SizeBrigade
Motto"Si vis pacem – para bellum"
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial Facebook page
Commanders
Current
commander		Unknown
Notable
commanders		Viktor Fedorenko † (2023)

The 44th Mechanized Brigade (44 OMBR) is a mechanized formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It was formed in 2023 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with personnel training in Ukraine and Poland. The brigade operates a mixture of Soviet-designed and Western-supplied equipment, including BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, Polish Rosomak armored personnel carriers and Rak self-propelled mortars, Slovenian Valuk armored personnel carriers, and Leopard 1A5 tanks. It was the first Ukrainian formation publicly identified as operating the Leopard 1A5.[1][2][3][4]

A battalion of the brigade was deployed west of Kreminna in 2023, and the brigade subsequently operated on the Svatove axis in 2024. Reporting during 2025 and 2026 placed elements of the brigade on the Toretsk and Kostiantynivka axes in Donetsk Oblast, where they participated in defensive operations against Russian forces.[5][6][7][8][9]

History

Rak self-propelled mortar of the 44th Mechanized Brigade

The brigade was established on 2 March 2023 as part of the expansion of the Ukrainian Ground Forces following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[10] Its personnel initially trained in Ukraine before some of its battalions were sent to Poland, where they trained with Western-supplied vehicles and weapons.[11][12] In November 2023, Leopard 1A5 tanks belonging to the brigade were photographed near the front in Kharkiv Oblast. Members of their crews stated that the tanks had already participated in combat, marking the first publicly confirmed operational use of the Leopard 1A5 by a Ukrainian formation.[13] The brigade had also begun operating Polish Rak 120 mm self-propelled mortars by December.[14] In September 2023, it was transferred north, together with the 42nd Mechanized Brigade to reinforce Ukrainian defenses in the Kupiansk region.

In 2024, the brigade fought on the front in Luhansk.[15]During 2024, the brigade continued operating in northeastern Ukraine. In July, its anti-aircraft units were reported on the Svatove axis, where they protected the brigade's positions and artillery from Russian reconnaissance and attack drones.[16]

By May 2025, elements of the brigade were operating in several sectors of Donetsk Oblast. ArmyInform reported that a brigade armored group equipped with Rosomak vehicles had operated on the Pokrovsk axis, while the brigade's unmanned-systems battalion was engaged on the Toretsk axis.[17][18]

In April 2026, the commander of the brigade's anti-aircraft missile battalion stated that his unit had been operating around Kostiantynivka for approximately a year. The battalion defended Ukrainian positions, equipment and supply routes against Russian FPV drones, reconnaissance aircraft and larger attack drones.[19]

Structure

As of 2026, the brigade's structure is as follows:[20]

  • 44th Mechanized Brigade,
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • Military Law-Enforcement Service
    • Security Platoon
  • 1st Mechanized Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
  • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
  • 21st Rifle Battalion (unit number A7105)[21]
  • 61st Rifle Battalion (unit number A4462)[22]
  • 62nd Rifle Battalion (unit number A4467)[23]
  • 64th Rifle Battalion (unit number A4553)[24]
  • Tank Battalion (Leopard 1A5)
  • Unmanned Systems Battalion “Legion North”[25][26]
  • Brigade Artillery Group (2S1 Gvozdika)
    • Command and Artillery Reconnaissance Battery
    • Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
    • Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
    • Anti-Tank Battalion
  • Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Attack Drone Company "Calyptra"
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Signal Company
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Radar Company
  • Medical Company
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company

References

  1. ↑ Axe, David (3 August 2023). "The Ukrainian 44th Brigade Is Getting Leopard 1A5 Tanks. But It Better Not Think Of Them As Real Tanks". Forbes. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Korshak, Stefan (28 November 2023). "Cold War-era Leopard I Tank Spotted, Reportedly in Action for First Time in Ukraine". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Новостворена 44 бригада отримала на озброєння польські БТР та німецькі танки". ZN.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "44-а ОМБр нищить рашистів з польського самохідного 120-мм міномета". Defense Express (in Ukrainian). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Axe, David (3 August 2023). "The Ukrainian 44th Brigade Is Getting Leopard 1A5 Tanks. But It Better Not Think Of Them As Real Tanks". Forbes. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "«Взвод Капітана Америки»: як працюють зенітники на Сватівському напрямку". Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "«Мені постійно здавалося, що я роблю замало»: історія пілотеси «Красотки», яка керує «крилами» 44-ї бригади". ArmyInform (in Ukrainian). 9 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "«Якби не справлялися, то ситуація виглядала би інакше». Військовий розповів, як протидіють дронам РФ біля Костянтинівки". Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Likhovid, Oksana (24 June 2026). "Місто виглядає мертвим: ворог КАБами стирає Костянтинівку в попіл — 44-та ОМБр". Espreso TV (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Однороженко, Олег; Поцелуйко, Валерій; Руденко, Олексій; Шереметьєв, Олексій (2025). In hoc signo vinces. Історія підрозділів сухопутних військ Збройних сил України в знаках і символах (in Ukrainian). Kharkiv: Фоліо. p. 178. ISBN 978-617-8550-52-3.
  11. ↑ Axe, David (3 August 2023). "The Ukrainian 44th Brigade Is Getting Leopard 1A5 Tanks. But It Better Not Think Of Them As Real Tanks". Forbes. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "«Харон» і його «окрема» рота: історія офіцера-піхотинця 44-ї окремої механізованої бригади". ArmyInform (in Ukrainian). 6 May 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Korshak, Stefan (28 November 2023). "Cold War-era Leopard I Tank Spotted, Reportedly in Action for First Time in Ukraine". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "44-а ОМБр нищить рашистів з польського самохідного 120-мм міномета". Defense Express (in Ukrainian). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  15. ↑ German Aid to Ukraine (25 January 2024). "A news team from UATV English covered the German-Dutch-Danish delivered Leopard 1A5s of the 44th Mechanized Brigade. Short but good video with native English translation and interviews with crew members". Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Взвод «Капітана Америки»: як працюють зенітники на Сватівському напрямку". Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "«Харон» і його «окрема» рота: історія офіцера-піхотинця 44-ї окремої механізованої бригади". ArmyInform (in Ukrainian). 6 May 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "«Маскують міни під сміття та багнюку» — як на Торецькому напрямку ворог намагається зупинити українську логістику". ArmyInform (in Ukrainian). 31 May 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "«Якби не справлялися, то ситуація виглядала би інакше». Військовий розповів, які дрони РФ застосовує біля Костянтинівки". Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 8, 2023". Critical Threats. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  21. ↑ "21st Rifle Battalion".
  22. ↑ "61st Rifle Battalion".
  23. ↑ "62nd Rifle Battalion".
  24. ↑ "64th Rifle Battalion".
  25. ↑ "«Легіон Північ» – Батальйон безпілотних систем «Легіон Північ» 44-ї ОМБр". Legion North (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Батальйон безпілотних систем «Легіон Північ» 44 ОМБр". Lobby X (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
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