Chernyi Appointed Commander of 54th Mechanized Brigade

Following the rapid loss of the city of Siversk, north of Bakhmut, Ukrainian command decided to dismiss the commander of the 54th Mechanized Brigade, Colonel Oleksiy Konoval, in December 2025. On January 15, 2026, Colonel Vadym Chernyi was appointed as the new commander of the brigade. The appointment was announced by the brigade through its official social media channels.

About the commander

Vadym Chernyi is a native of Kherson. He graduated from the National Academy of the Land Forces of Ukraine and the National University of Defense of Ukraine. According to research by MilitaryLand, he signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2013 and rose through the ranks from platoon commander to commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 28th Mechanized Brigade. He led the battalion during some of the heaviest fighting in southern Ukraine in 2022. In 2025, Chernyi was appointed deputy commander of the 5th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, a position he held until his appointment to the 54th Mechanized Brigade.