{{Short description|Ukrainian Ground Forces unit}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = 3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade<br/><small>(2025 – present)</small> ---- 3rd Tank Brigade<br/><small>(2016 – 2025)</small> | image = File:3 ОТБр к.svg | image_size = 200px | caption = Shoulder sleeve patch | dates = 2016 – present | country = {{flagcountry|Ukraine}} | allegiance = | branch = {{army|UKR}} | type = | role = 25px Mechanized Infantry | size = Brigade | command_structure = | nickname = Iron Brigade<ref name="20 minutes"/> | march = | patron = | mascot = | battles = {{tree list}} *War in Donbas *Russian invasion of Ukraine **2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive **2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive {{tree list/end}} | anniversaries = | decorations = | notable_commanders = Col. Roman Sheremet<ref name=oksana/> | identification_symbol = 200px | identification_symbol_label = Former sleeve patch | native_name = {{lang|uk|3-тя важка механізована бригада<br>3-tia vazhka mekhanizovana bryhada}} }}
The '''3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade'''{{efn|{{langx|uk|3-тя важка механізована бригада|translit=3-tia vazhka mekhanizovana bryhada}}}} 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.<ref name=axe>{{cite web |title=Ukraine Has Mobilized Its Tank Reserves. They’re Already On The Attack. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/04/18/ukraine-has-mobilized-its-tank-reserves-theyre-already-on-the-attack/?sh=2f591fc136cd |author=David Axe |work=Forbes |date=18 April 2022 |access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref> Before February 2022, it was composed of only 130 personnel, who were tasked with maintaining its equipment.<ref name="20 minutes">{{Cite web |title=Guerre en Ukraine : Près de Kharkiv, avec les soldats « mobilisés mais volontaires » de la 3e brigade de chars |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/monde/ukraine/4029669-20230327-guerre-ukraine-pres-kharkiv-soldats-mobilises-volontaires-3e-brigade-char-fer |last=Regny |first=Diane |date=2023-03-27 |website=20 minutes}}</ref>
=== Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
Following the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade's ranks were filled with mobilized soldiers.<ref name="20 minutes"/><ref name="bne">{{Cite web|url=https://www.intellinews.com/ukraine-s-3rd-tank-brigade-prepares-for-battle-282390/|title=Ukraine’s 3rd Tank Brigade prepares for battle|date=June 21, 2023|website=www.intellinews.com}}</ref><ref name=oksana/> As the brigade's units were being assembled, they were deployed to different front lines, including to Kyiv, Izium, Kharkiv, Sloviansk, and Zaporizhzhia.<ref name=oksana/>
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 {{ill|Topolske|uk|Топольське}}, 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.<ref name=oksana/>
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, {{ill|Shchurivka, Kharkiv Oblast|lt=Shchurivka|uk|Щурівка (Ізюмський район)}} and Balakliia.<ref name=oksana>{{cite web|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/10/13/pid-chas-boyiv-na-harkivshhyni-na-odyn-nash-tank-pryhodylosya-pyat-vorozhyh-komandyr-tankovoyi-zaliznoyi-brygady/|website={{ill|АрміяInform|uk}}|language=uk|title=Під час боїв на Харківщині на один наш танк приходилося п’ять ворожих — командир танкової Залізної бригади|first=Оксана|last=Іванець|access-date=28 July 2025|date=13 October 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name="bne"/>
Also in September 2022, units of the brigade took part in combat at Mar'yinka in the Donetsk Oblast.<ref name="20 minutes"/>
In March 2023, elements of the brigade were positioned in the Kharkiv Oblast.<ref name="20 minutes"/> In June of the same year, a unit of the brigade was positioned near Vovchansk on the Russia-Ukraine border.<ref name="bne"/>
The 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Brigade took part in a December 2024 operation to recapture the village of {{ill|Novomlynsk|uk|Новомлинськ}} in the Kharkiv region.<ref> {{cite web| url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/voyiny-edelvejsu-rozpovily-pro-vtechu-okupantiv-za-oskil/| website=Militarnyi| title=Воїни “Едельвейса” розповіли про втечу окупантів за Оскіл| language=uk| first=Олександр| last=Ян| date=3 December 2024 |access-date=4 May 2025}} </ref>
In July 2025, it was announced that the 3rd Tank Brigade had been reformed into the 3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade.<ref>{{Cite web|access-date=28 July 2025|language=uk|website={{ill|Мілітарний|uk}}|date=18 July 2025|first=Дмитро|last=Шумлянський|title=Третю танкову бригаду реорганізували у третю важку механізовану бригаду|url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/tretyu-tankovu-brygadu-reorganizuvaly-u-tretyu-vazhku-mehanizovanu-brygadu/}}</ref>
{{tree list}} == Structure == {{unsourced section|date=July 2025}} * '''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 {{tree list/end}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Ukrainian Ground Forces}}
Category:Heavy mechanized brigades of Ukraine Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the war in Donbas Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine