3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade

3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade
(2025 – present)
3rd Tank Brigade
(2016 – 2025)
3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade; (2025 – present) 3rd Tank Brigade; (2016 – 2025)
3-тя окрема танкова бригада; 3-tya okrema tankova bryhada
	Shoulder sleeve patch
Active	2016 – present
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Ground Forces
Role	Mechanized infantry
Size	Brigade
Nickname(s)	Iron Brigade
Engagements	War in Donbas; Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive; 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive; ;

The 3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade^[a] is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.^[2]

History

Formation

The brigade was formed in 2016 as a reserve unit. It was armed with T-72 tanks.^[2] Before February 2022, it was composed of only 130 personnel, who were tasked with maintaining its equipment.^[1]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Following the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade's ranks were filled with mobilized soldiers.^[1]^[3] By April 2022, it took combat on the Izium front, including near the village of Topolske [uk] in the Kharkiv Oblast.^[2]^[3] In September, as part of a major Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kharkiv Oblast, it was one of the units that retook Izium.^[3] Also in September 2022, units of the brigade took part in combat at Mar'yinka in the Donetsk Oblast.^[1] A unit of the brigade also reportedly fought in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.^[1]

In March 2023, elements of the brigade were positioned in the Kharkiv Oblast.^[1] In June of the same year, a unit of the brigade was positioned near Vovchansk on the Russia-Ukraine border.^[3]

In July 2025, the brigade was reformed into the 3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade.^[4]

Structure

3rd Tank Brigade "Iron"
- Headquarters
  - 9th Separate Tank Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Tank Companies (T-72 variants, T-84 Oplot)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - 10th Separate Tank Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Tank Companies (T-72 variants, T-84 Oplot)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - 11th Separate Tank Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Tank Companies (T-72 variants, T-84 Oplot)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - Mechanized Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Mechanized Companies (BMP-1)
    - Grenade Launcher Platoon (AGS-17)
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
    - Anti-Aircraft Platoon (9K38 Igla, FIM-92 Stinger, Mistral MANPADS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Support Company
      - Technical Support Platoon
      - Material Support Platoon
  - 1st Rifle Battalion
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Rifle Companies
    - Fire Support Company
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Technical Support Platoon
    - Material Support Platoon
  - 2nd Infantry Battalion "Joker"
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Infantry Companies
    - Fire Support Company
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Technical Support Platoon
    - Material Support Platoon
  - 36th Separate Rifle Battalion "Steppe Wolves" (Attached)
    - Headquarters
    - 3x Infantry Companies
    - Fire Support Company
    - Reconnaissance Platoon
    - Mortar Battery (120mm/82mm mortars)
      - Rocket Artillery Platoon ("Soroka" MLRS)
    - Engineer & Sapper Platoon
    - Signals Platoon
    - Medical Station
    - Technical Support Platoon
    - Material Support Platoon
  - Artillery Group
    - Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery (Leleka-100 & A1-CM Furia drones)
      - BUAR UAV Group (Drops/Observation)
    - 1st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S1 Gvozdika)
    - 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S3 Akatsiya)
    - 30th Rocket Artillery Battalion (BM-21 Grad, Bastion-01)
    - Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (FGM-148 Javelin)
  - Sniper Platoon
  - Reconnaissance Platoon
  - Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion (ZU-23)
  - Engineer Battalion (BAT-2)
  - Transmissions Company
  - Radar Company
  - Medical Company
  - CBRN Protection Company
  - Commandant's Platoon
  - Repair and Restoration Battalion (BREM-1)
  - Logistics Battalion

Notes

^ Ukrainian: 3-тя окрема танкова бригада, romanized: 3-tya okrema tankova bryhada

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Regny, Diane (2023-03-27). "Guerre en Ukraine : Près de Kharkiv, avec les soldats « mobilisés mais volontaires » de la 3e brigade de chars". 20 minutes.
^ ^a ^b ^c David Axe (18 April 2022). "Ukraine Has Mobilized Its Tank Reserves. They're Already On The Attack". Forbes. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Ukraine's 3rd Tank Brigade prepares for battle". www.intellinews.com. June 21, 2023.
^ "3rd Tank Brigade Reformed as Heavy Mechanized Unit". MilitaryLand.net. 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-07-19.

[2] Ukrainian: 3-тя окрема танкова бригада, romanized: 3-tya okrema tankova bryhada

[20_minutes-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Regny, Diane (2023-03-27). "Guerre en Ukraine : Près de Kharkiv, avec les soldats « mobilisés mais volontaires » de la 3e brigade de chars". 20 minutes.

[axe-3] David Axe (18 April 2022). "Ukraine Has Mobilized Its Tank Reserves. They're Already On The Attack". Forbes. Retrieved 7 June 2022.

[bne-4] "Ukraine's 3rd Tank Brigade prepares for battle". www.intellinews.com. June 21, 2023.

[5] "3rd Tank Brigade Reformed as Heavy Mechanized Unit". MilitaryLand.net. 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-07-19.

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