Newly Forming Mechanized Brigades Remain Active

In January, Yuriy Butusov, editor-in-chief of Ukrainian Censor.net, shared that the formation of several brigades—specifically the 158th, 159th, 160th, and 162nd Mechanized Brigades—had been put on hold by order of President Zelenskyy, with the support of the military leadership.

Yuriy Butusov’s information raised several questions. Firstly, the social media accounts of the 158th and 159th Brigades remained active. Secondly, volunteers closely connected to these brigades continued to collect donations for soldiers and equipment. Additionally, some volunteers expressed opposition to the disbandment of these brigades, citing their better condition and organization compared to previously formed brigades. The key difference—particularly regarding the 158th and 159th Mechanized Brigades—is their combat core. Unlike the 155th and 157th Brigades, these units were built around battle-hardened soldiers, providing a stronger foundation for their formation.

For instance, the 159th Mechanized Brigade is commanded by Col. Oleksandr Demchuk, who completed an internship at the Fort Knox military base in the USA. Since February 26, 2022, he had led the 23rd Rifle Battalion. The brigade’s core consists of fighters from the 5th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, the 67th Mechanized Brigade, and the 23rd Rifle Battalion.

There are multiple mentions on social media of the 160th Mechanized Brigade, suggesting it is still active in Poland. In contrast, there have been no public updates on the 161st Mechanized Brigade since its reveal in 2024, indicating that its formation may have been suspended. Meanwhile, the recruiting platform LobbyX continues to advertise positions for the 162nd Mechanized Brigade, suggesting it remains active and in the process of formation. Additionally, the brigade has several ongoing tenders for equipment.