47th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Magura" (Ukrainian: 47-ма окрема механізована бригада) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022.^[5]

Name

In

The unit was formed during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The unit was originally called the 47th Assault Battalion, and was created under the leadership of Captain Ivan Shalamaga, who at the time held the position of deputy commander in the 30th Mechanized Brigade; and reconnaissance officer Valery Markus.^[7][8] After its official establishment on April 26, the battalion underwent training before being deployed to the Vuhlehirskaya area near Bakhmut, participating in the Battle of Bakhmut.^{[1][failed verification]}

The battalion's success was recognized by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Valery Zaluzhny, who ordered its expansion into a full assault regiment.^[7] Within three months, the 47th Assault Battalion was reorganized into the 47th Assault Brigade, which was then led by Oleksandr Sak as its commander, with Shalamaga as his deputy.^[9]

General Zaluzhny appointed Oleksandr Sak as the brigade commander. The brigade underwent combat training in various locations throughout Ukraine and Europe and members of the brigade trained on vehicles at a U.S. base.^[1] The brigade saw a significant increase in personnel, from roughly 400 in April to around 2,000 in January 2023.^[5] The 47th Mechanized Brigade was formed from the 47th Assault Battalion, which was established with volunteers from Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Lviv.^[7] The head master sergeant of the battalion was Valeriy Markus.^[10]

The battalion was quickly equipped and ready for action, participating in a battle for the

On June 8, 2023, the 47th Mechanized Brigade engaged in the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive and suffered heavy material losses.^[12][13] On July 11, 2023, headmaster sergeant Valerii Markus, who had met with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the end of June, complained about the decisions of the unit's command regarding lack of interest in soldiers morale and officers incompetence.^[14]

Intense clashes occurred near the hamlet of Robotyne, as it held a vital position in the Russian defensive front. The village endured significant damage and population loss throughout the battles.^[15][16][17] The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade was the first Ukrainian unit to enter the village on July 22, 2023.

In late July, the

As of September 2023, the brigade had suffered around 2,000 casualties out of its initial complement of 5,000.^[24]

On 16 September 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Sak was removed from command and replaced by Colonel Oleksandr Pavlii.^[4]

Avdiivka

Around mid-October 2023, the brigade was pulled from the southern front and transferred to reinforce the defense against Russian forces in the

The following month, the unit was visited by Spanish newspaper El País. At the time, it was defending the railway lines north of Avdiivka to avoid the encirclement of the city. Casualties were said to be high on both sides, with, reportedly, one Ukrainian casualty for three Russian.^[29] A platoon leader reporting 17 killed and missing in action. The same officer also claimed that his Russian opponents were "superior in everything except in training". The commander of a Paladin howitzer complained that he could only shoot 15 shells per day, compared with 100 to 150 per day during the summer counteroffensive, and that his gun's error margin had grown from 7 to 70 meters due to wear.^[30] A squad leader declared having lost all his 17 men while another company lost 65 out of a total of 80 soldiers, with casualties are claimed to be comparable to those of the Russians.^[29]

On December 28, near Stepove, repelling an attack by the Russian Armed Forces, the brigade allegedly destroyed 21 enemy tanks and 14 IFV/APC.^[31] Colonel Pavili was dismissed the following month, and replaced by Lt. Col. Dmitro Riumshin.^[29]

On February 23, 2024, the brigade published a video that showed, for the first time, an

Ukrainian commander-in-chief Syrskyi publicly praised the 47th Brigade in March 2024 for its efforts in repelling Russian attacks on the villages of Berdychi and Orlivka.^[34] On March 10, 2024, the commander of the brigade, Ryumshin, was replaced by Col. Yan Yatsishen.^[35] The latter is the fourth commander so far.^[29]

El País on April 22, 2024 reported the brigade was in dire straits due to ammunition and equipment shortages; in one company, for instance, there remained only two Bradley vehicles in operation out of its initial eleven.^[29]

Equipment

The brigade is armed with

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:[10]

• 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
    • Attack Drone Unit "Ignis Vindicta"
  • 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  • Tank Battalion (the 2 companies of m55s were switched with Leopard 2)
  • 25th Assault Battalion
    • Aerial Reconnaissance Group "Search and Destroy"
  • 26th Rifle Battalion
  • Artillery Group
    • Regimental Headquarters and Target Acquisition Battery
    • 1st Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion (M109 howitzer)
    • 2nd Artillery Battalion (122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30))
    • Rocket Artillery Battalion (BM-21 Grad)^[39]
    • Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Mixed)
  • Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Aerial Reconnaissance Unit "God's Work"
  • Attack Drone Company "Strike Drones Company"
  • Combat Engineer Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Signal Company
  • Radar Company
  • Medical Company
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
  • Brigade Band

Commanders and notable military officers

• Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Sak^[40]
• Colonel Oleksandr Pavlii^[4]
• Sergeant Major Valeriy Markus^[40]
• Sergeant Major Vitaliy Averin^[41][42]

See also

• Yuliia Shevchenko (activist)

References