59th Motorized Brigade (Ukraine)
| 59th Separate Motorized Brigade "Yakiv Handziuk" | |
|---|---|
| 59-та окрема мотопіхотна бригада «Якова Гандзюка» 59 okrema motopіkhotna bryhada "Yakiv Handziuk" | |
 Brigade insignia | |
| Active | 8 December 2014 – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type | Motorized infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Operational Command South |
| Garrison/HQ | Haisyn, Vinnytsia Oblast |
| Nickname(s) | "Steppe Predators" ("Stepovi Khyzhakhy") |
| Motto(s) | "To Victory" |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official Facebook page |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Vadym Sukharevsky |
| Insignia | |
| Former sleeve patch |  |
The 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade (59-та окрема мотопіхотна бригада) is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2014. The brigade was activated on 8 December 2014 in the city of Haisyn in Vinnytsia Oblast and took command of three volunteer territorial defence battalions.
On 24 August 2015, Ukraine's Independence Day, the brigade received its flag and became fully operational. The brigade fought in the war in Donbas and will become a mechanized formation in the future.
History
On 8 December 2016, the commander of Operational Command South named 59th brigade the best Ukrainian motorized brigade according to 2015 summary.[1]
On 20 January 2018, the brigade's units returned to garrison in Haisyn from frontlines. They were deployed in the combat zone in Donbas in the Priazovia region since May 2017.[2]
Between 24 February – 2 March 2022, the brigade fought in the Battle of Kherson, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3] This brigade continues to fight Russian units in Kherson Province into April 2022.
Since August 2022, the brigade has been on consistent rotation fighting in the Battle of Bakhmut.[4]
During the 2023 Ukrainian Counteroffensive the brigade has been effective in Eastern Ukraine campaign in the Donetsk direction.[5] On September 8, 2023 the brigade's units coordinated assault operations, cleared Russian positions, entrenched themselves and liberated part of the settlement of Opytne back to the Ukrainian control.[6]
Structure
As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:[7]
- 59th Motorized Brigade, Haisyn
- Brigade’s Headquarters
- 9th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Vinnytsia"
- 10th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Polissya"
- 11th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Kyivan Rus'"
- 1st Rifle Battalion
- Separate Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves”. Commander Serhii Filimonov.
- Tank Battalion
- Artillery Group
- Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery
- Howitzer Artillery Battalion (D-20)
- Anti-tank Artillery Battalion (MT-12 Rapira)
- Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
- Reconnaissance Company
- Drone Company "Inquisition"[8]
- "Michigan" Group
- "Key" Group
- "Baltic" Group
- Engineer Battalion
- Maintenance Battalion
- Logistic Battalion
- Signal Company
- Radar Company
- Medical Company
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
"Chosen Company" (-formerly of the International Legion for the Territorial Defence of Ukraine, this group of volunteers from the United States, Australia, and several other countries has been part of the 59th Brigade during the 2023 Summer Counteroffensive, conducting reconnaissance patrols and trench clearing operations)
References
- ^ "Другу річницю від дня заснування відзначила 59 окрема мотопіхотна бригада | Гайсинська районна рада" [The 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade celebrates its second anniversary | Haisyn district council]. gayrayrada.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "Гайсинська 59-та бригада повертається з передової додому (ФОТО)" [Haysyn 59th Brigade returns home from the front line (PHOTOS)]. vn.depo.ua. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Schwirtz, Michael (6 March 2022). "Proud Band of Ukrainian Troops Holds Russian Assault at Bay — for Now". New York Times. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Gall, Carlotta; Berehulak, Daniel (6 March 2023). "Ukrainian Soldiers, Nearly Encircled, Push Russians Back". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Завдання – максимальне наближення моменту, коли F-16 допоможуть нам тримати якнайдалі російських терористів – звернення Президента України" (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 25 August 2023.
- ^ "ВСУ продвинулись возле Опытного и приблизились к Донецкому аэропорту" (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 8 September 2023.
- ^ "59th Motorized Brigade". Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Інквізиція 59 легіону". Telegram. Retrieved 12 February 2024.