115th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine) explained

Unit Name:115th Mechanized Brigade
Native Name:Ukrainian: 115-та окрема механізована бригада
Dates:March 1, 2022 - Current
Country:
Role:Mechanized Infantry
Garrison:Cherkasy Oblast
Motto:Born of Fire!
Battles:
Website:https://www.facebook.com/115ombr
Commander1:Ihor Ivanov
Identification Symbol Label:Subdued patch

The 115th Mechanized Brigade is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022.[1]

History

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. 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 23rd of April 2024 that the army leadership in Kyiv had launched an investigation to find out the reason for the mass exodus. 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 acused Deepstate and it's 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

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

References

  1. Web site: 2022-09-11 . 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 . 2023-02-03 . odessa-journal.com . en-US.
  2. Web site: 2023-09-20 . 115 отдельная механизированная бригада (А4053, 115 ОМехБр) . 2023-09-20 . wartears.org . uk.
  3. Web site: 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 . 2023-02-03 . CNN . en.
  4. Web site: 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 . 2024-04-24 . Forbes . en.
  5. Web site: The 115th brigade denies its responsibility for the collapse of the defense of Ocheretyne. May 2, 2024. babel.ua.
  6. Web site: Ukraine’s 115th Mechanised Brigade reveals how it defended Ocheretyne from intense Russian advance. Ukrainska Pravda.
  7. Web site: The collapse of the defense of Ocheretyne: the DeepState project responded to the accusations of the command of the 115th brigade. May 3, 2024. babel.ua.
  8. Web site: Kursk direction: Krupets was liberated, 340 militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 19 armored vehicles were destroyed. August 15, 2024. EADaily.
  9. Web site: Ukraine claims control of 82 settlements in Kursk region, including town of Sudzha. August 15, 2024. 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. Web site: Ukraine sets up military office in Russia as incursion grows. www.bbc.com.
  12. Web site: 20th Rifle Battalion .
  13. Web site: 44th Rifle Battalion .
  14. News: uk. Natalia Balyukh. 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. 8 February 2024.