| 42nd Mechanized Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 42 окрема механізована бригада | |
 Shoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | January 25, 2023 – Today |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Role |  Mechanized Infantry |
| Part of | Operational Command South |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official Facebook page |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt. Col. Serhiy Lisovenko |
The42nd Mechanized Brigade named after Hero of Ukraine Valerii Hudz (Ukrainian:42 окрема механізована бригада) is amechanized infantry brigade of theUkrainian Ground Forces.[1]
The brigade was formed on January 25, 2023, as part of the expansion of theUkrainian Army in anticipation of the2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, primarily from personnel mobilized in western Ukraine and officers from the10th Mountain Assault Brigade.[citation needed] The command was entrusted to Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Bolechan, former commander of the 109th Battalion of the 10th Brigade.[citation needed] However, these were only equipped to one battalion, and the other two received theBMP-1LB, vehicles based on theMT-LB hull and equipped with a modern stabilized turret.
In September 2023 the brigade was deployed to the front for the first time, being sent together with the44th Mechanized Brigade to theKupiansk Raion to reinforce the Ukrainian defenses in the north.[citation needed] Starting from October it was deployed in theAndriivka area nearBakhmut.[citation needed] In the first months of 2024 they were part of the Ukrainian defense against theRussian winter offensive in the direction ofChasiv Yar.
The brigade was transferred to theKharkiv region, on 9 May, providing support to the125th Territorial Defense Brigade in repelling a Russian attacks near the village ofPylna[2] reportedly its "Perun" drone unit destroyed 4 Russian BMPs along with personnel nearPylna,Hlyboke andLukiantsi.[3] Forced to give up ground in the following days, with the arrival of elements of the92nd Assault Brigade it managed to stop the advancement of the18th Motor Rifle Division by taking positions in the village ofLyptsi.[4] The drone operators of the unit fly 20 kilometers deep intoBelgorod Oblast to destroy enemy targets. A soldier from the brigade who goes by the callsign "Chirva", toldThe Washington Post that many scouts in the brigade had only been given 14 days of training before being sent into combat.[5]
As of December 2024, the brigade was still fighting in the Kharkiv Oblast.[6]
On 1 October 2025, on the occasion ofDefenders Day, the brigade was awarded the honorary title "named afterHero of UkraineValerii Hudz" by decree of PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy.[7]
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As of 2024 the brigade's structure is as follows:
422nd Separate Rifle Battalion (A4850)[citation needed]
424th Rifle Battalion (А4856)
Unmanned Systems Battalion "Perun"
Medical Company
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1Unless stated otherwise, the brigade is mechanized. | |||||||||||||||||
