Two New Heavy Mechanized Brigades formed

As part of the ongoing transformation of the Defense Forces into a corps–brigade structure, two new heavy mechanized brigades have been established.

The 12th Heavy Mechanized Brigade is being formed on the basis of the 12th Tank Battalion. Originally created in 2019 to strengthen the defense of Chernihiv Oblast, the battalion closely cooperated with the 1st Tank Brigade (renamed the 1st Heavy Mechanized Brigade in 2025). From that unit, it also inherited most of its BM Bulat tanks.

The second new formation is the 29th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, built around the 29th Tank Battalion. This battalion is relatively new, having been established in 2025. MilitaryLand wrote about its formation on April 26, 2025, as the first publication. However, little is currently known about the unit.

The conversion of these two tank battalions into heavy mechanized brigades marks the end of independent combat tank units within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today, only the 300th Training Tank Regiment remains a separate tank unit, while all other tank battalions and companies are directly subordinated to brigade or regiment commands.

12th Heavy Mechanized Brigade

A0932

12 ОВМБр

29th Heavy Mechanized Brigade

A5081

29 ОВМБр

Heavy Units in Corps

Each corps formation within the Ground Forces structure is expected to include a dedicated heavy mechanized brigade. Below is the updated overview of army corps with and without an assigned heavy mechanized formation.

As part of the recent changes, the 117th Heavy Mechanized Brigade has been transferred to the 19th Army Corps, while the 12th Heavy Mechanized Brigade has been assigned to the 10th Army Corps.

• 3rd Army Corps – 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 9th Army Corps – 5th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 10th Army Corps – 12th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 11th Army Corps – 127th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 12th Army Corps – unknown
• 14th Army Corps – unknown
• 15th Army Corps – 129th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 16th Army Corps – 3rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 17th Army Corps – 128th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 18th Army Corps – 1st Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 19th Army Corps – 117th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 20th Army Corps – 17th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
• 21st Army Corps – 4th Heavy Mechanized Brigade

At present, two corps remain without a dedicated heavy mechanized brigade: the 12th Army Corps and the 14th Army Corps. One formation, the 29th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, has not yet been assigned to a corps.

Thanks to our Discord user zero Sero for the heads-up.

Sources: LobbyX