17th Heavy Mechanized Brigade

17th Heavy Mechanized Brigade is a tank formation of Armed Forces of Ukraine. The unit is the direct successor of Soviet 17th Tank Division. In 2014, when the war broken out in Donbas, the unit was in the process of reorganization to 2nd Tank Brigade and only a skeleton staff was present. The reorganization was ceased soon after it and the unit was deployed to Donbas. In fall 2014, most of the brigade was staffed with volunteers, mainly from territorial battalions. Additional mechanized battalions were formed to help 17th Brigade but in 2015, two battalions were transferred to other units. All tank units were withdrawn from the frontline in 2015 after the battle of Debaltseve.On the night of the invasion, part of the brigade was stationed in Luhansk Oblast and one tank battalion in Mariupol.In October 2024, the tank brigade was reformed into a heavy mechanized brigade.