 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2023) |
| 54th Mechanized Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 54-та окрема механізована бригада імені гетьмана Івана Мазепи | |
.svg) Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | December 2014 – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type |  Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Operational Command East.png) 11th Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Bakhmut |
| Patron | Ivan Mazepa |
| Engagements | War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Decorations | .svg) For Courage and Bravery |
| Insignia | |
| Subdued SSI | .svg) |
The54th Mechanized Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa (Ukrainian:54-та окрема механізована бригада імені гетьмана Івана Мазепи) is a brigade of theUkrainian Ground Forces, part ofOperational Command East. The brigade was based inBakhmut and was formed in 2014. The brigade fought in thewar in Donbas and theRussian invasion of Ukraine.
Between 18 and 22 December 2016, the brigade fought in theBattle of Svitlodarsk. The fighting began with a pro-Russian separatist attack against the 54th's positions. The brigade counterattacked the separatist flank and captured new positions. During the fighting, nine of the brigade's soldiers were killed and 35 were wounded. Press reports at the time described the action as the bloodiest in the preceding five months.[1]
TheGeorgian Legion fought in eastern Ukraine under the overall command of the 54th Mechanized Brigade. In December 2017, the Legion withdrew from the brigade citing the "incompetence" of the brigade's command after a costly operation conducted nearSvitlodarsk on 16 December 2017.[2] The 54th Mechanized Brigade denied that a "Georgian Legion" had ever existed among their ranks.[3]In January 2018 the Legion's commander Mamulashvili said the Legion remained committed to the Ukrainian cause and had moved to another brigade. He added that the decision was not connected to a political conflict between Mikhail Saakashvili andPresident of UkrainePetro Poroshenko.[4]
On May 5, 2018, during a raid, a unit of the 25th Infantry Battalion of the brigade captured a separatist fighter from the 3rd Battalion of the7th Motorized Rifle Brigade.[5][6]
On June 15, 2018, the brigade returned from the Joint Forces Operation Zone, where they had fought for eight months on theSvitlodarsk Arc. During the rotation, 170 fighters of Russian-aligned groups and 19 pieces of materiel were neutralized, three enemy positions were destroyed, and two settlements were recaptured.[7][8][9]
In mid-July 2019, the 54th Brigade conducted an operation in the Donbas, destroying a military base. The attack, which lasted only 12 minutes, destroyed valuable military equipment, killed 20 soldiers, and wounded 11.[10]
On May 6, 2020, the brigade was given the honorary title of "Ivan Mazepa."[11]
During April 2022, units of the 54th Mechanized Brigade, including the K2 Battalion, took part in combat operations in theDonetsk Oblast.;[12] the K2 Battalion continued operating in the Donetsk Oblast during May 2022.[13] By August 2022, the K2 Battalion was taking part inthe defense ofMarinka in the Donetsk Oblast.[14]
In September 2022, the brigade took part in an operation to recapture the village ofSpirne in theDonetsk Oblast as part of aa major Ukrainian offensive.[15]
On December 6, 2022, the brigade was awarded the medal "For Courage and Bravery" by presidential decree.[16]
As of May 2023, the 54th Brigade's K2 Battalion was operating on the "Soledar-Siversk front".[17]
In March 2024, mechanized elements of the 54th Brigade reportedly took part in combat near the village ofOrlianka [uk], in theKharkiv Oblast.[18]
During May 2024 and July 2024, the brigade's K2 Battalion was involved in combat on theSiversk front, in the area of the village ofVerkhn'okam'yans'ke.[19][20] By July 2024, it was reported that this battalion had held positions on the Siversk front for more than a year.[20]
As of November 2024, units of the 54th Brigade were operating on theSiversk front under the command of theLuhansk Operational-Tactical Group [uk].[21]
As of March 2025, the K2 Battalion was still taking part in combat on theSiversk front, including at the village of Verkhn'okam'yans'ke.[22][23] As of February 2025, the 54th Brigade's "Incognito Battalion" was also operating in theDonetsk Oblast.[24]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:
Attack UAV Unit "Legion"
2nd Mechanized Battalion "K-2"
25th Separate Motorized Battalion "Kyivan Rus" (unit number А2457)
2nd Rifle Battalion
Aerial reconnaissance Drone Unit "Ministry of Magic"| Corps |  | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Groups | |||||||||||||||||
| Brigades |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Regiments |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Battalions |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Educational Institutions | |||||||||||||||||
| Training Centers | |||||||||||||||||
| International Units | |||||||||||||||||
1Unless stated otherwise, the brigade is mechanized. | |||||||||||||||||
