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31st Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

{{Short description|Ukrainian Ground Forces formation}}

{{pp|small=yes}}

{{use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade

| native_name = {{lang|uk|31 окрема механізована бригада}}

| image = 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade SSI (with tab).svg

| image_size =

| caption = Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

| dates = 2023 - present

| country = {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}

| branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| type =

| role = Mechanized Infantry

| size = 2,000https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/06/26/there-are-fancy-ukrainian-brigades-then-theres-the-31st-mechanized-the-unassuming-unit-just-pulled-a-daring-maneuver/?sh=2899f2a24dd3

| command_structure = Operational Command North

| garrison = Zhytomyr Oblast

| motto = Ferro Et Igne

| battles = Russo-Ukrainian War

| website =

| commander1 =

}}

The 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade ({{Langx|uk|31 окремої механізованої бригади}}) 31 ОМБр is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |title=Ukraine Is Forming A Dozen New Brigades—And Giving Them Old Weaponry |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/04/11/ukraine-is-forming-a-dozen-new-brigades-and-giving-them-old-weaponry/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The brigade is one of the brigades the Ukrainian army formed on its own, with mostly older ex-Soviet equipment, including T-64BV tanks as well as American-made MaxxPro armored trucks. The brigade has been described as inexperienced by Forbes.https://twitter.com/Militarylandnet/status/1673289712939806721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1673289712939806721%7Ctwgr%5Efa3ee7b096aee25eb965bf4c681e193a07cea1eb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fembedly.forbes.com%2Fwidgets%2Fmedia.html%3Ftype%3Dtext2Fhtmlkey%3D3ce26dc7e3454db5820ba084d28b4935schema%3Dtwitterurl%3Dhttp3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FMilitarylandnet%2Fstatus%2F1673289712939806721image%3D{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |title=There Are Fancy Ukrainian Brigades—Then There’s The 31st Mechanized. The Unassuming Unit Just Pulled A Daring Maneuver. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/06/26/there-are-fancy-ukrainian-brigades-then-theres-the-31st-mechanized-the-unassuming-unit-just-pulled-a-daring-maneuver/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

History

The brigade was formed during the winter of 2022–23.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-31 |title=Latest Developments in Ukraine: Dec. 31 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-dec-31/6898784.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=VOA |language=en}}

By June 2023 the unit was involved in counteroffensive operations around the village of Rivnopil, which it liberated on 25 June.

The brigade was involved in the battle of Avdiivka.

On 24 July 2024, the brigade was fighting in the village of Prohres when it became encircled by Russian forces. DeepStateMap.Live reported that the Brigade had not been ordered to withdraw.https://t.me/DeepStateUA/19955 Forbes reported that the brigade had collapsed and that the 47th Mechanized Brigade was sent to prevent a deeper Russian breakthrough and that the 47th and remnants of the 31st attempting to hold the line west of Prohres.https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/07/24/a-ukrainian-brigade-collapsed-and-now-hundreds-of-soldiers-are-nearly-surrounded-near-prohres/ On 25 July 2024 DeepStateMap reported that the 1st and 3rd Mechanized Battalions managed to breakout of the encirclement with the aid of coordinated artillery, air reconnaissance and parts of adjacent units.https://ukranews.com/en/news/1022300-fighters-of-31st-separate-mechanized-brigade-successfully-break-through-encirclement-on-pokrovsk However, DeepStateMap also reported that the 47th Mechanized Brigade, along with 31st Mechanized Brigade remain "the main backbone of defense" in that area and that the situation is "conditionally, consistently bad and there is no improvement so far".https://m.censor.net/en/news/3501569/soldiers_of_the_31st_smb_managed_to_escape_encirclement_near_prohres_deepstate_says

Structure

As of 2023 the brigade's structure is as follows:{{Cite web |last=SOFREP |date=2022-03-12 |title=These Are The Elite Russian Tank Units Taking Most Of The Casualties In Ukraine Right Now |url=https://sofrep.com/news/these-are-the-elite-russian-tank-units-taking-most-of-the-casualties-in-ukraine-right-now/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=SOFREP |language=en}}

  • 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade,
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 1st Mechanized Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
  • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
  • 20px 45th Rifle Battalion (unit number A4062){{Cite web|url=https://militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/45th-rifle-battalion/|title=45th Rifle Battalion}}
  • Tank Battalion
  • Artillery Group
  • Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Signal Company
  • Radar Company
  • Medical Company
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Protection Company

References

{{Authority control}}{{Ukrainian Ground Forces}}

Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Military units and formations established in 2023

Category:Mechanized brigades of Ukraine

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