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 важка механізована бригада; 3-tia vazhka mekhanizovana 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; ;
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Col. Roman Sheremet

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

History

Formation

The brigade was formed in 2016 as a reserve unit. It was armed with T-72 tanks.^[3] 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]^[4]^[2] As the brigade's units were being assembled, they were deployed to different front lines, including to Kyiv, Izium, Kharkiv, Sloviansk, and Zaporizhzhia.^[2]

On 15 March, a few hours after arriving in Barvinkove, a company of six tanks from the 3rd Brigade took part in an assault on the village of Topolske [uk], on the Izium front in the Kharkiv Oblast. The brigade's commander later claimed that about two dozen Russian tanks were stationed in the village and that nine were destroyed during combat, but Ukrainian forces failed to retake the village.^[2]

In September, units of the 3rd Tank Brigade participated in a major Ukrainian offensive in the Kharkiv Oblast. In cooperation with other Ukrainian forces, the brigade's units took part in the recapture of the settlements of Nova Husarivka, Bairak, Shchurivka [uk] and Balakliia.^[2] Neil Hauer reported that elements of the 3rd Tank Brigade were also among the Ukrainian units which retook Izium, as part of the same offensive.^[4]

Also in September 2022, units of the brigade took part in combat at Mar'yinka in the Donetsk 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.^[4]

In July 2025, it was announced that the 3rd Tank Brigade had been reformed into the 3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade.^[5]

Structure

3rd Heavy Mechanized 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 важка механізована бригада, romanized: 3-tia vazhka mekhanizovana bryhada

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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 ^d ^e Іванець, Оксана (13 October 2022). "Під час боїв на Харківщині на один наш танк приходилося п'ять ворожих — командир танкової Залізної бригади". АрміяInform [uk] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
^ 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 "Ukraine's 3rd Tank Brigade prepares for battle". www.intellinews.com. June 21, 2023.
^ Шумлянський, Дмитро (18 July 2025). "Третю танкову бригаду реорганізували у третю важку механізовану бригаду". Мілітарний [uk] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.

[3] Ukrainian: 3-тя важка механізована бригада, romanized: 3-tia vazhka mekhanizovana bryhada

[20_minutes-1] 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.

[oksana-2] Іванець, Оксана (13 October 2022). "Під час боїв на Харківщині на один наш танк приходилося п'ять ворожих — командир танкової Залізної бригади". АрміяInform [uk] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.

[axe-4] David Axe (18 April 2022). "Ukraine Has Mobilized Its Tank Reserves. They're Already On The Attack". Forbes. Retrieved 7 June 2022.

[bne-5] "Ukraine's 3rd Tank Brigade prepares for battle". www.intellinews.com. June 21, 2023.

[6] Шумлянський, Дмитро (18 July 2025). "Третю танкову бригаду реорганізували у третю важку механізовану бригаду". Мілітарний [uk] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.

[1]

[2]

[a]

[3]

[4]

[5]