The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade is a formation of the
Ukrainian Ground Forces
The Ukrainian Ground Forces (SVZSU, ), also referred to as the Ukrainian army, is a land force, and one of the eight Military branch, branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was formed from Ukrainian units of the Soviet Army after Declaratio ...
formed in 2024.
History
Formation
The brigade was formed after a Ukrainian mobilization law came into force, seeing the draft age being lowered from 27 to 25 and placing penalties for those avoiding conscription.
This law also saw prisoners being able to join the armed forces.
The brigade was deployed to defend
Pokrovsk
Pokrovsk (, ; ), formerly known as Krasnoarmiisk (until 2016) and Grishino (until 1934), is a city and the administrative center of Pokrovsk Raion in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It is located northwest of Donetsk. Prior to 2020, it was incorporat ...
during the Russian
offensive
Offensive may refer to:
* Offensive (military), type of military operation
* Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative
* Fighting words, spoken words which would have a tendency to cause acts of violence by the ...
in the area, but suffered from poor training and low morale and was reportedly deteriorating while being transferred to Pokrovsk due to high
desertion
Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. This contrasts with unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL ), which ...
rates, which had led to the collapse of another
150-series brigade a few weeks prior.
Structure
As of July 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:
*157th Separate Infantry Brigade
**Brigade's Headquarters
** 1st Infantry Battalion
** 2nd Infantry Battalion
** 3rd Infantry Battalion
** 4th Infantry Battalion
** 5th Infantry Battalion
** Reconnaissance Company
** Anti-Tank Company
** Anti-Aircraft Defense Company
** Engineer Company
** Maintenance Company
** Medical Company
See also
*
155th Infantry Brigade – a newly created infantry unit in the Ukrainian Ground Forces in May 2024, part of the new expansion
References
Notes
{{Ukrainian Ground Forces
Military units and formations established in 2024
Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
2024 establishments in Ukraine