The 56th Motorized Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The brigade was activated on 23 February 2015 in the city of Dnipro in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and took command of three volunteer territorial defence battalions. The brigade fought in the Russo-Ukrainian War and has functioned as a motorized brigade.
| 56th Motorized Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian: 56-та окрема мотопіхотна бригада | |
 56th Motorized Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 23 February 2015 – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch | Ground Forces |
| Type | Motorized infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Operational Command South |
| Garrison/HQ | Mariupol |
| Engagements | Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Decorations | .svg){kind=small} For Courage and Bravery |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Serhii Sirchenko |
In June 2019, it was announced the 56th Motorized Brigade would be transferred to the Ukrainian Naval Infantry and remain based in Mariupol as part of the effort to increase the size of Ukrainian Marine Corps to 4 brigades.[3]
As of December 2023, the brigade was holding an 18-kilometer front line near Kramatorsk with around 7 000 men. Its commander, 38-year old Yan Iatsychen, complained of lack of artillery and ammunition.[4]
Structure
As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:
- 56th Motorized Brigade, Mariupol
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
21st Motorized Battalion "Sarmat"
23rd Motorized Battalion "Khortytsia"
37th Motorized Battalion
Caucasus Legion
Tank Battalion
Artillery Group
- Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery
- 1st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (152 mm SpGH DANA)
- 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (D-20)
- Rocket Artillery Dattalion (BM-21 Grad)
- Anti-tank Artillery Battalion (MT-12 Rapira)
- Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
- Reconnaissance Company
- Attack Drone Company "Katenyata"
- Sniper Platoon
- Engineer Battalion
- Logistic Battalion
- Maintenance Battalion
- Signal Company
- Radar Company
- Medical Company
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
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- All three Motorized Battalions - 21st, 23rd and 37th were formed in 2014 as Territorial Defense Battalions "Sarmat", "Khortytsia" and "Zaporozhzhia". They were all reformed in 2015 under the command of 56th Motorized Brigade. Caucasus Legion joined the ranks of the brigade in September 2023. It was originally formed in June 2022 with volunteers from the Caucasus region.
References
- ^ "In Mariupol, a war of images to prove who controls the city". The Observers - France 24. 30 March 2022.
- ^ Axe, David. "The Russians Want Pisky. The Ukrainians Want Pisky. Neither Army Has Enough Troops For A Quick Victory". Forbes.
- ^ "56-у мотопіхотну бригаду передадуть морській піхоті". 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Dans le Donbass, les soldats ukrainiens en panne de munitions". Le Monde.fr (in French). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.