51st Mechanized Brigade

The 51st Mechanized Brigade was a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces with roots tracing back to the Soviet Army’s 15th Guards Rifle Division, established in 1947 in Volodymyr. Following Ukraine’s independence, the division’s personnel swore allegiance to Ukraine on January 19, 1992, becoming part of the national armed forces. In 2002, the division was reorganized into a brigade.

In 2014, as the conflict in eastern Ukraine escalated, the brigade’s servicemen were deployed to counter Russian aggression in Donbas, forming several battalion tactical groups. On July 25, 2014, after intense battles near Voznesenivka on the Russian border, 40 soldiers from the brigade surrendered and crossed into Russian territory, leading to a criminal case against them. During Ukraine’s withdrawal from Ilovaysk on August 29, 2014, Russian forces ambushed retreating Ukrainian troops, resulting in the deaths of brigade commander Pavlo Pavarenko and 16 soldiers.

On September 22, President Petro Poroshenko announced the brigade’s disbandment, with a new mechanized brigade to be formed in its place. Subsequently, on December 1, 2014, the 14th Mechanized Brigade was established, officially marking the dissolution of the 51st Mechanized Brigade.