M-55S tanks have found a new home

The Slovenian M-55S tanks, donated to Ukraine from Slovenian stocks by Germany in 2022, have struggled to find a permanent role since their delivery. Initially assigned to the 47th Mechanized Brigade, they were withdrawn before the brigade’s deployment in 2023. Reassigned to another unit shortly after, they were again pulled back a few months later. In March 2024, the tanks were integrated into the 5th Tank Brigade, only to vanish from service following the brigade’s reformation into a heavy mechanized unit in December 2024.

The M-55S tanks have resurfaced, this time in the service of the newly formed 159th Mechanized Brigade, specifically in its tank battalion. The presence of the M-55S tanks was confirmed by the brigade commander, Colonel Oleksandr Demchuk, who congratulated the tank crews on Ukraine’s Day of Unity, celebrated on January 22.

Based on the photos published by the commander, the equipment has been transferred to the 159th Brigade along with their crews from the 5th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, as some soldiers can still be seen wearing the insignia of the 5th Brigade during the ceremony.