| 39th Motorized Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian:39-й окремий мотопіхотний батальйон | |
 39th Motorized Infantry Battalion shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 2014–present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch | Ground Forces |
| Type | Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | battalion |
| Engagements | War in Donbas |
The39th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Dnipro-2" was amilitary formation of theUkrainian Ground Forces in 2014–2016.[1]
The battalion was created in May 2014 in response to theRussian annexation of Crimea as the 39th volunteerterritorial defense battalion "Dnipro-2" from the residents of theDnipropetrovsk region. Fighters of the battalion took part in fierce battles forIlovaisk in August 2014.
It was disbanded in 2016 and transformed into55th Artillery Brigade (Ukraine).
On March 18, 2014, afterRussia's military invasion of Crimea and itsannexation, partialmobilization began in Ukraine.
April 30, 2014 the Acting President of UkraineOleksandr Turchynov instructed the heads of regional administrations to start creating territorial defense battalions in eachregion of Ukraine.[2]
In July, 39 BTR personnel performed tasks nearVolnovakha.[3] On the evening of July 21, 2014, a minibus loaded withexplosives hit a checkpoint of Ukrainian forces near the village ofKamyanka and exploded. Five soldiers were killed.
On August 1, the infantry and security companies of the 39th BTR were transferred to the Mnogopillya district betweenIlovaisk and Kuteynikov, where they formed a base camp.
In August 2014 39th territorial defense battalion "Dnipro-2" had participated inBattle of Ilovaisk.[4][5][6]
On August 29, negotiations on a green corridor to leave the encirclement were held with the enemy.
According to the Book of Memory, 8 soldiers of the 39th Battalion were killed near Ilovaisk.[7]
In November 2014, the BTRO was reorganized into the 39th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion and transferred to the55th Artillery Brigade.[8]
39th Motorized Infantry Battalion was disbanded in 2016, a security battalion of the 55th separate artillery brigade was created on its basis.[9]
The battalion personnel received regular small arms and disposable grenade launchers. There were problems with providing soldiers with protective equipment, primarilybulletproof vests. The process of purchasing them at public expense was stopped after theVerkhovna Rada'sAnti-Monopoly Committee began reviewing tenders; promises to help by several Dnipropetrovskphilanthropists were not fulfilled. This led to the fact that at the end of June, when 39 armored personnel carriers were already on the front line, ten soldiers of the battalion had one bulletproof vest.[10]
According to the Book of Memory, between 2014 and 2017, the battalion lost 28 people.[11]
On December 8, 2018, in Dnipro,chaplains of theUOC-KP prayed for the fallen 28 soldiers and the health of families, for the peace of the Heroes, for Ukraine, and the victory of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
Bishop Simeonposthumously awarded the soldiers with church awardsFor Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine. Those present honored the feat of servicemen by laying flowers on the Alley of Heroes.[12]
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