54th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)
{{Short description|Ukrainian Ground Forces unit}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Update|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 54th Mechanized Brigade
| native_name = 54-та окрема механізована бригада імені гетьмана Івана Мазепи
| image = 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade SSI (with tab).svg
| caption = Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
| dates = December 2014 {{endash}} present
| country = {{Flag|Ukraine}}
| branch = {{Army|Ukraine}}
| type = Mechanized Infantry
| size = Brigade
| command_structure = Operational Command East
| garrison = Bakhmut
| patron = Ivan Mazepa
| battles = War in Donbas
Russian invasion of Ukraine
| decorations = 200px
For Courage and Bravery
|
| identification_symbol = 100px
| identification_symbol_label = Subdued SSI
}}
The 54th Mechanized Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa ({{Langx|uk|54-та окрема механізована бригада імені гетьмана Івана Мазепи}}) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, part of Operational Command East. The brigade was based in Bakhmut and was formed in 2014. The brigade fought in the war in Donbas and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
History
= War in Donbas (2014–2022) =
Between 18 and 22 December 2016, the brigade fought in the Battle of Svitlodarsk. The fighting began with a pro-Russian separatist attack against the 54th's positions. The brigade counterattacked the separatist flank and captured new positions. During the fighting, nine of the brigade's soldiers were killed and 35 were wounded. Press reports at the time described the action as the bloodiest in the preceding five months.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/least-22-ukrainian-soldiers-killed-russias-war-december-january.html|title=At least 22 Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russia's war in December–January|last=Goncharova|first=Olena|date=12 January 2017|work=Kyiv Post|access-date=22 January 2017}}
The Georgian Legion fought in eastern Ukraine under the overall command of the 54th Mechanized Brigade. In December 2017, the Legion withdrew from the brigade citing the "incompetence" of the brigade's command after a costly operation conducted near Svitlodarsk on 16 December 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://uawire.org/georgian-legion-left-the-ukrainian-armed-forces|title=UAWire - 'Georgian Legion' leaves Ukrainian Armed Forces|website=uawire.org|access-date=2020-01-27}} and {{cite news |last1=Mariamidze |first1=Tea |title=Heavy Shelling Wounds Georgian Legion Members in Eastern Ukraine |url=http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/4041_december_20_2017/4041_tea.html |accessdate=3 February 2019 |work=Messenger Online |date=20 December 2017}} The 54th Mechanized Brigade denied that a "Georgian Legion" had ever existed among their ranks.{{cite news |title=Georgian volunteers in Ukraine war quit military unit after 'provocations' |url=https://dfwatch.net/georgian-volunteers-in-ukraine-war-quit-military-unit-after-provocations-49727 |publisher=Democracy and Freedom Watch |date=10 Jan 2018}}
In January 2018 the Legion's commander Mamulashvili said the Legion remained committed to the Ukrainian cause and had moved to another brigade. He added that the decision was not connected to a political conflict between Mikhail Saakashvili and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.{{cite news |title=Georgian Legion Commander: we moved to another brigade within Ukrainian Armed Forces |url=https://uawire.org/georgian-legion-commander-we-moved-to-another-brigade-with-a-competent-commander |accessdate=3 February 2019 |work=UAWire |date=15 January 2018}}
On May 5, 2018, during a raid, a unit of the 25th Infantry Battalion of the brigade captured a separatist fighter from the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade.{{cite web|url=https://milnavigator.tv/ukrayinski-vijskovi-vzyaly-v-polon-rosijskogo-bojovyka/|title=Українські військові взяли в полон російського бойовика|author=|date=2018-05-05|website=milnavigator.tv/|publisher=Military Navigator|accessdate=5 May 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505205455/https://milnavigator.tv/ukrayinski-vijskovi-vzyaly-v-polon-rosijskogo-bojovyka/|archivedate=2018-05-05|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/25-batalyon-proviv-uspishnu-operaciyu-na-peredoviy/|title=25 батальйон провів успішну операцію на передовій|author=|date=2018-05-05|website=mil.in.ua/|publisher=Український мілітарний портал|accessdate=5 May 2018|archive-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505210043/https://mil.in.ua/25-batalyon-proviv-uspishnu-operaciyu-na-peredoviy/}}
On June 15, 2018, the brigade returned from the Joint Forces Operation Zone, where they had fought for eight months on the Svitlodarsk Arc. During the rotation, 170 fighters of Russian-aligned groups and 19 pieces of materiel were neutralized, three enemy positions were destroyed, and two settlements were recaptured.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2018/06/15/meshkanczi-harkivshhini-urochisto-zustrili-bijcziv-54-ombr-yaki-povernulis-z-rajonu-provedennya-oos/|title=Мешканці Харківщини урочисто зустріли бійців 54 омбр, які повернулись з району проведення ООС|last=|first=|date=June 15, 2018|website=mil.gov.ua|publisher=Міністерство оборони України|language=|accessdate=|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616154110/http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2018/06/15/meshkanczi-harkivshhini-urochisto-zustrili-bijcziv-54-ombr-yaki-povernulis-z-rajonu-provedennya-oos/}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.5.ua/regiony/kinets-hariachoi-rotatsii-zi-svitlodarskoi-duhy-dodomu-povernulasia-54ta-ombr-171775.html|title=Кінець "гарячої" ротації: зі Світлодарської дуги додому повернулася 54-та ОМБр|date=June 15, 2018|website=5.ua|publisher=5 канал|accessdate=25 June 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185519/https://www.5.ua/regiony/kinets-hariachoi-rotatsii-zi-svitlodarskoi-duhy-dodomu-povernulasia-54ta-ombr-171775.html}}{{Cite web|url=https://apostrophe.ua/ua/news/society/accidents/2018-06-20/v-seti-rasskazali-ob-uspehah-ukrainskih-vojsk-s-unichtozheniem-tehniki-boevikov-na-svetlodarskoj-duge-foto/133685|title=У мережі розповіли про успіхи українських військ зі знищенням техніки бойовиків на Світлодарській дузі|date=2018-06-20|website=apostrophe.ua|publisher=Апостроф|accessdate=25 June 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185829/https://apostrophe.ua/ua/news/society/accidents/2018-06-20/v-seti-rasskazali-ob-uspehah-ukrainskih-vojsk-s-unichtozheniem-tehniki-boevikov-na-svetlodarskoj-duge-foto/133685}}
In mid-July 2019, the 54th Brigade conducted an operation in the Donbas, destroying a military base. The attack, which lasted only 12 minutes, destroyed valuable military equipment, killed 20 soldiers, and wounded 11.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-29 |title=20 вбитих і 11 поранених окупантів за 12 хвилин та розбита ворожа техніка: ЗСУ провели нищівну операцію на Донбасі |url=https://espreso.tv/news/2019/08/22/20_vbytykh_i_11_poranenykh_okupantiv_za_12_khvylyn_ta_rozbyta_vorozha_tekhnika_zsu_provely_nyschivnu_operaciyu_na_donbasi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829070039/https://espreso.tv/news/2019/08/22/20_vbytykh_i_11_poranenykh_okupantiv_za_12_khvylyn_ta_rozbyta_vorozha_tekhnika_zsu_provely_nyschivnu_operaciyu_na_donbasi |archive-date=2019-08-29 |access-date=2022-09-01 }}
On May 6, 2020, the brigade was given the honorary title of "Ivan Mazepa."{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/1682020-33569|title=Указ Президента України № 168/2020|accessdate=6 May 2020|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303112544/https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/1682020-33569}}
= Russia-Ukraine war (2022–present) =
During April 2022, units of the 54th Mechanized Brigade, including the K2 Battalion, took part in combat operations in the Donetsk Oblast.;
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/54-ta-brygada-zsu-zavdala-udaru-po-rosijskym-okupantam-na-donechchyni/|
website=Militarnyi|
title=54-та бригада ЗСУ завдала удару по російським окупантам на Донеччині|
language=uk|
first=Саня|
last=Козацький|
date=18 April 2022|
access-date=4 May 2025}} the K2 Battalion continued operating in the Donetsk Oblast during May 2022.
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/vijskovi-54-yi-brygady-pokazaly-yak-znyshhyly-vorozhyj-tank-na-donechchyni/|
website=Militarnyi|
title=Військові 54-ї бригади показали як знищили ворожий танк на Донеччині|
language=uk|
first=Катерина|
last=Супрун|
date=15 May 2022|
access-date=4 May 2025}} By August 2022, the K2 Battalion was taking part in the defense of Marinka in the Donetsk Oblast.
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/syly-oborony-bilya-mar-yinky-znyshhyly-minometnyj-rozrahunok-okupantiv/|
website=Militarnyi|
title=Сили оборони біля Мар’їнки знищили мінометний розрахунок окупантів|
language=uk|
first=Саня|
last=Козацький|
date=17 August 2022|
access-date=4 May 2025}}
In September 2022, the brigade took part in an operation to recapture the village of Spirne in the Donetsk Oblast as part of a a major Ukrainian offensive.{{cite web|url=https://tro.mil.gov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Calendar%20TRO%20volume%202.pdf|title=Воєнно-історичний календар сил територіальної оборони збройних сил України на 2024 рік (липень-грудень)|language=uk|access-date=27 June 2025|first1=Марія|last1=Руденко|first2=Віта|last2=Титаренко|first3=Ігор|last3=Волков|website=Сили територіальної оборони ЗСУ}}
On December 6, 2022, the brigade was awarded the medal "For Courage and Bravery" by presidential decree.{{Cite web |date=6 December 2022 |title=Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 836 |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/8362022-45153 |website=president.gov.ua}}
As of May 2023, the 54th Brigade's K2 Battalion was operating on the "Soledar-Siversk front".
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/aerorozvidnyky-dobyly-rosijskyj-t-90m-proryv/|
website=Militarnyi|
title=Аеророзвідники добили російський Т-90М "Прорыв"|
language=uk|
first=Тарас|
last=Сафронов|
date=26 May 2023|
access-date=4 May 2025}}
In March 2024, mechanized elements of the 54th Brigade reportedly took part in combat near the village of {{ill|Orlianka|uk|Орлянка (Куп'янський район)}}, in the Kharkiv Oblast.{{cite web|url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/na-harkivshhyni-54-ombr-tankamy-vidbyla-rosijskyj-shturm/|website=Militarnyi|title=На Харківщині 54 ОМБр танками відбила російський штурм|first=Тарас|last=Сафронов|date=6 March 2024|access-date=4 May 2025|language=uk}}
During May 2024 and July 2024, the brigade's K2 Battalion was involved in combat on the Siversk front, in the area of the village of Verkhn'okam'yans'ke.
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/bataljon-k-2-pokazav-transhejni-boyi-pid-siverskom/|
title=Батальйон К-2 показав траншейні бої під Сіверськом|
language=uk|
website=Militarnyi|
first=Олександр|
last=Ян|
date=16 May 2024|
access-date=4 May 2025}}
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/odyn-proty-shesty-ukrayinskyj-voyin-vidbyv-shturmovu-grupu-okupantiv/|
website=Militarnyi|
language=uk|
title=Один проти шести: український воїн відбив штурмову групу окупантів|
first=Олександр|
last=Ян|
date=28 November 2024|
access-date=4 May 2025}}
By July 2024, it was reported that this battalion had held positions on the Siversk front for more than a year.
As of November 2024, units of the 54th Brigade were operating on the Siversk front under the command of the {{ill|Luhansk Operational-Tactical Group|uk|Оперативно-тактичне угруповання «Луганськ»}}.
{{cite web|
url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/54-ta-brygada-vidbyla-shturm-rosiyan-na-siverskomu-napryamku/|
title=54-та бригада відбила штурм росіян на сіверському напрямку|
language=uk|
website=Militarnyi|
first=Саня|
last=Козацький|
date=18 November 2024|
access-date=4 May 2025}}
As of March 2025, the K2 Battalion was still taking part in combat on the Siversk front, including at the village of Verkhn'okam'yans'ke.
{{cite web|
url=https://censor.net/ua/news/3541680/voyiny-54-ombr-zupynyly-voroju-bronetehniku|
title=Воїни 54 ОМБр зупинили ворожу бронетехніку з піхотою, яка їхала на штурм на Сіверському напрямку|
website=Цензор.нет|
date=17 March 2025|
access-date=4 May 2025|
first=Ангеліна|
last=Шорохова}}
url=https://censor.net/ua/videonews/3538754/zsu-atakuvaly-voroga-z-artyleriyi-striletskogo-vognyu-ta-droniv|
title=Воїни 54 ОМБр атакували ворога з артилерії, стрілецького вогню та дронів на межі Донеччини та Луганщини|
website=Цензор.нет|
language=uk|
date=2 March 2025|
access-date=4 May 2025|
first=Ангеліна|
last=Шорохова}}
As of February 2025, the 54th Brigade's "Incognito Battalion" was also operating in the Donetsk Oblast.
{{cite web|
url=https://censor.net/ua/videonews/3534534/ostanni-myti-jyttya-okupanta-na-donechchyni|
website=Цензор.нет|
title=Поранений окупант додихає у канаві на Донеччині|
language=uk|
date=7 February 2025|
access-date=4 May 2025|
first=Сергій|
last=Яковенко}}
Organization
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}
As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:
- 54th Mechanized Brigade, Bakhmut
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- 1st Mechanized Battalion
- 20px Attack UAV Unit "Legion"
- 20px 2nd Mechanized Battalion "K-2"
- Attack UAV Platoon
- 3rd Mechanized Battalion
- 20px 25th Separate Motorized Battalion "Kyivan Rus" (unit number А2457)
- 1st Rifle Battalion
- 20px 2nd Rifle Battalion
- Tank Battalion
- Field Artillery Regiment
- Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery
- 1st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S3 Akatsiya)
- 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S1 Gvozdika)
- Rocket Artillery Battalion (BM-21 Grad)
- Anti-tank Artillery Battalion (MT-12 Rapira)
- Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Battalion
- Special Purpose Reconnaissance Company "Incognito"
- 20px Aerial reconnaissance Drone Unit "Ministry of Magic"
- Attack UAV Company "Divine Punishment" ("Nebesna Kara")
- Sniper Company
- Engineer Battalion
- Maintenance Battalion
- Logistic Battalion
- Electronic Warfare Company
- Signal Company
- Radar Company
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
- Medical Company
