A crucial point of this war is approaching. Ukrainian Army is preparing to launch an offensive to liberate its land, and we have prepared a list of potential units which might part of it.
Ukrainian command deliberately holds back a good chunk of its forces and stockpiles of ammunition. These units do not participate in active combat, but they are undergoing intense military training, either by foreign instructors in the west or by veteran soldiers in Ukraine. Such details were shared by U.S. official to the Washington Post in March 2023.
Only this information reduces the number of possible units by at least half and helps us to identify Ukrainian units which might take part in the upcoming offensive.
However, it’s important to note that the list below doesn’t represent a full or official list of Ukrainian units for the offensive. It’s just the best guess based on the information shared by the U.S. official to WP and the activity on official social channels of each brigade. The recent leak of U.S. documents were not taken into account.
Air Assault Forces
Air Assault troops are the first in the line and are usually tasked to lead a spearhead.
82nd AirAssault Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/air-assault-forces/82nd-airassault-brigade
The brigade trained months abroad, is equipped with Western weapons, and will surely participate in the offensive as a spearhead element.
46th Airmobile Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/air-assault-forces/46th-airmobile-brigade
The majority of its forces are in the rear and will possibly lead a second spearhead.
78th Regiment
militaryland.net/ukraine/air-assault-forces/78th-regiment
The recently expanded Hearts unit is a unit full of skilled soldiers, and they’ll likely participate as well.
It’s possible that some separate battalions from other brigades might take part.
Troops: ~7 000
Ground Forces of Ukraine
Ground Forces usually follow Air Assault troops and provide support whenever necessary.
1st Tank Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/1st-tank-brigade
Majority of the 1st Tank Brigade sits in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and trains with other mechanized brigades. The unit also received an unspecified number of Leopard 2A6 tanks.
4th Tank Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/4th-tank-brigade
The tank brigade received Leopard 2A4 tanks and will act as the heavy brigade.
17th Tank Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/17th-tank-brigade
The brigade is scattered across the frontline, but some tank battalions seem to be in the rear and might participate in the offensive.
13th Jager Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/13th-jager-brigade
Soldiers train for airdrop operations and CQB combat. The brigade is still in the process of formation, but it should be ready for the offensive.
21st Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/21st-mechanized-brigade
There is a little to know about the brigade. They’ll probably act as a reserve, if at all.
22nd Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/22nd-mechanized-brigade
Mechanized battalions train for combined assault. The brigade also has its own tank unit, which is rare among the newly formed brigades.
23rd Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/23rd-mechanized-brigade
There is a little to know about the brigade. They’ll probably act as a reserve, if at all.
31st Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/31st-mechanized-brigade
There is a little to know about the brigade. They’ll probably act as a reserve, if at all.
32nd Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/32nd-mechanized-brigade
The unit received western equipment, including M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. The soldiers train for mechanized assaults and trench warfare.
33rd Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/33rd-mechanized-brigade
The brigade received M113s and has its own tank unit. Mechanized battalions train for the frontline assault.
41st Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/41st-mechanized-brigade
The brigade is relatively new, and its soldiers will likely be in the reserve.
47th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/47th-assault-brigade
One of the three main brigades that will lead the assault. There is no doubt that 47th Mechanized Brigade will participate in the upcoming offensive and act as heavy mechanize brigade.
48th Artillery Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/48th-artillery-brigade
There is a little to know about the brigade. If they take part, they’ll probably act as a reserve.
49th Artillery Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/49th-artillery-brigade
The artillery brigade received AS-90s and will almost certainly participate in the offensive.
60th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/60th-mechanized-brigade
One battalion is deployed to Bakhmut, but the rest seems to be in the rear, preparing for the offensive.
61st Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/61st-mechanized-brigade
Soldiers are training for demining, mechanized assaults and combat support of other units.
62nd Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/62nd-mechanized-brigade
There is a little to know about the brigade. They’ll probably act as a reserve, if at all.
63rd Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/63rd-mechanized-brigade
The brigade is located in the rear. It’s possible the soldiers will take part of the upcoming offensive.
88th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/88th-mechanized-brigade
Soldiers are training for mechanized assaults and crossing of water obstacles. It’s likely that 88th Mechanized Brigade will participate in the offensive.
115th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/115th-mechanized-brigade
The brigade has been sitting in the rear for some time now. They received M113s in the meanwhile and continue to master skills.
116th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/116th-mechanized-brigade
The brigade is almost formed and will be ready for the upcoming offensive.
117th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/117th-mechanized-brigade
Soldiers of the brigade participated in the training abroad and received western weapons. The brigade will likely be ready for the offensive.
118th Mechanized Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/118th-mechanized-brigade
The brigade is formed and ready to participate in the upcoming offensive.
128th Mountain Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/128th-mountain-assault-brigade/
Majority of the brigade seems to be in the rear, training trench warfare.
Troops: ~60 000
It’s possible that some separate battalions from other brigades might take part as well.
Territorial Defense Brigade
- It’s highly possible that several Territorial Defense Brigades will participate too. We’ll count with three.
Troops: ~ 9 000
Ukrainian Air Force
Consolidated Rifle Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/air-force/consolidated-rifle-brigade
Soldiers of the brigade train for CQB combat and support of other units. The unit might take part in the upcoming offensive.
Helicopters and jets of various Air Force Brigades will very likely support the ground troops and participate in the offensive.
Troops: ~3 000
Ukrainian Naval Forces
Naval Forces have a similar role to Ukrainian Ground Troops, but maybe they will be tasked with landing on the other side of Dnipro or Crimea. We’ll find out soon enough.
37th Marine Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/ukrainian-navy/37th-marine-brigade
The brigade received western weapons and is training for mechanized assaults.
38th Marine Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/ukrainian-navy/38th-marine-brigade
The brigade received western weapons and is training for mechanized assaults and trench warfare.
The Raid, Surface and Support Ships Divisions will likely participate as well, depends on the scale of the operation.
Troops: ~ 6 000
Special Operations Forces
SOF are the eyes and ears. They do operate behind enemy lines and prepare grounds for the offensive.
Special Operations Center South
Who else knows the south better than SSO South.
Troops: ~ 1 000
National Guard of Ukraine
Ukrainian National Guard has only a few pieces of heavy equipment and will likely follow Ukrainian Mechanized Brigades with main task to secure towns.
Azov Assault Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/national-guard/azov-brigade
At least two battalions of the brigade are ready.
Kara-Dag Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/national-guard/kara-dag-brigade
The brigade from Zaporizhzhia is named after a mountain located in Crimea.
It’s possible that some separate battalions from other brigades might take part as well.
Troops: ~6 000
Special Police Forces
Lyut Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/special-police-forces/lyut-brigade
Ukrainian Special Police Forces will very likely be tasked with the liberation of towns due to their CQB skills.
Troops: ~ 4 000
Border Guards of Ukraine
Stalevy Kordon Brigade
militaryland.net/ukraine/border-guards/stalevy-kordon-brigade
There is a little to know about the brigade. If they take part, they’ll probably act as a reserve.
It’s highly possible that Special Purpose detachments of Ukrainian Border Guards will take part as well.
Troops: ~3 000
Main Directorate of Intelligence
Kraken Special Detachment
militaryland.net/ukraine/main-intelligence-directorate/kraken-special-detachment
Kraken will surely participate in the offensive.
10th Special Forces Detachment
Ukrainian elite detachment closely cooperates with SSO. They’ll be behind enemy lines or tasked with the liberation of towns.
Troops: ~ 1 500
Wait, what about the paramilitary Offensive Guard brigades?
https://militaryland.net/news/ukraine-creates-offensive-guard-brigades/
Ah, I reached the end of this article. But what about the other half, i.e. Bureviy, Spartan, R ubizh, Chervona Kalyna?
Why do you think the stronger brigades like the 92, 93, 72, plus the other air assault brigades will not participate? Because they are not rested? Once the offensives start, Russian pressure will ease along the LOC
Something that wasn’t mentioned/might be unknown is what units will have the Marders and CV90’s since that would also be a large force with at least 40 Marders and 50 CV90’s
maybe they are for units already on the front.
According to the pentagon leaks, the 40 marders are for the 82nd brigade. We don’t have any information about cv90, we don’t even know if they are in Ukraine at the moment.
This counteroffensive carries the weight of some truly aspirational expectations, let’s just hope they see some success in breaking the stalemate in parts of the front. Russia probably isn’t yet at the same point Germany was during the Hundred Days Offensive to close out WWI. I’m not expecting total collapse of RU’s forces. Wouldn’t mind being wrong though. Good luck to these units and the others.
foreign legion ?
My god if this is not overly optimistic then Russia is done holy shit
You can also add parts of International fighters: Belarusian Volunteer Corps, Russian Volunteer Corps, Kalinouski Regiment, Georgian National Legion. 2500 fighters+-
Kalinouski Regiment now in Bakhmut. They have a lot of wounded soldiers. I don’t think they have any potential to participate in offensive
alot!
is there any estimation how much russians are in the south only?
67th? They deployed at least 1 battalion 2 months ago near Bakhmut. Will they keep holding Bakmut or take part in offensive?
67th is in the area of Bakhmut and will likely not participate.
How about 128 mountain assault brigade they have participated recently in recon attacks on the Zaporozhian Front.
They were recently deployed to Zapor, but not in a large number. Good point, I added them.
I bet that 65 the Mechinesed will participate too and maybe 77th air assault, they do fight in Bakhmut bit it’s possible that parts of it will be sent. From the other hand Kharkov offensive was successful with way fewer fighting force.
That is impressive. More than 100.000 well trained troops with big percentage of western weapons. It will surely be a big challenge for Russians to defend themselves against this force.
You forgot the 25 airborne brigade with Chalanger 2 tanks.
It is possible that soliders of the 25th and 80th brigades (who were trainning in England on Challenger 2) were transfered to the newly formed 82th brigade. Officially, Ukraine got only 14 Challengers2, all for the 82th brigade.
It was raised to 28 Challengers if I am not mistaken
Ukraine MoD announced the 28 tanks, but British government denied it immediatly.
The UA ambassador to the UK stated that it would be “an additional 14” during a speech he gave. UK MOD has denied his claims.
I’m actually leaning towards that Challanger 2 tanks ended with 82nd, because parts of 25th remains deployed in Luhansk.