A New Chapter Begins for the 63rd Mechanized Brigade

As the reformation of several units within the 3rd Army Corps continues to be in full swing, the 63rd Mechanized Brigade is no exception, visibly part of the broader reform process. These changes encompass a change to its command structure, combat organization, and its visual identity. These all reflect a wider effort to align the unit with the rest of the corps, embedding itself in its structure.

History of the Brigade

The 63rd Mechanized Brigade was formed in 2017 from units of Operational Command West, achieving combat readiness later that year following training at the Rivne training ground. It was first deployed to eastern Ukraine in 2019 and took part in major exercises such as Cossack Will.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the brigade has been actively engaged across multiple fronts, including operations in Kherson, Mykolaiv, and later Bakhmut, before redeploying to the Kreminna sector in Luhansk Oblast. Currently, the brigade is operating in the Lyman direction.

In 2025, the brigade received BTR-4 armored vehicles and was incorporated into the newly formed 3rd Army Corps. That same year, it began a significant reorganization process, transitioning from separate battalions to a more streamlined linear structure under corps-level reforms.

Introduction of New Commander

Recently, Major Denys Shapoval, formerly Deputy Commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, has been appointed to lead the brigade and is expected to implement reforms similar to those seen in the 53rd Mechanized, 60th Mechanized, and 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigades, aimed at significantly improving its combat effectiveness, aligning it with the modern standards of a fighting brigade within the 3rd Army Corps.

The transition was confirmed through a formal commendation by the brigade issued on March 31, 2026, in which the brigade expressed gratitude to a volunteer group for their contribution to improving the brigade’s combat capability and support towards Ukraine’s effort to defend itself.

The appointment reflects a broader trend within the 3rd Army Corps, where experienced personnel from the 3rd Assault Brigade are reassigned to reinforce subordinate units, bringing valuable combat and command experience to improve their overall effectiveness under corps command.

For the brigade, this transition will likely involve a prompt, comprehensive review of both junior and senior officer cadres, with a strong emphasis on combat performance, leadership, effectiveness, and knowledge. Similar measures have been observed elsewhere, notably in the 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, where Major Fokin addressed shortcomings in the leadership by sending incompetent and underperforming officers to the frontline to prove themselves.

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About Major Shapoval

Denys Shapoval, also known as “Shapa,” joined the Azov Regiment in 2015 and underwent intensive training in a special-purpose unit. He first saw combat in the winter of 2016, around the village of Chermalyk, Mariupol, later fighting in key sectors including Marinka, Krasnohorivka, and along the Shyrokyne–Hranitne line. In 2019, he took part in the defense of Novoluhanske on the Svitlodarsk Arc, gaining significant frontline experience.

After several years of service, he returned briefly to civilian life before rejoining the fight at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, joining the Azov Territorial Defense unit in Kyiv.

He took part in operations from Kyiv to the south, contributing to the liberation of Kherson, and later deployed to the Donetsk region, where he participated in heavy fighting around Bakhmut and Kurdiumivka. Rising through command positions, Shapoval became Chief of Staff of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade and later the deputy commander of the brigade itself.

Rebranding and Structural Reformations

With these major reforms now beginning to visually take place in the eyes of the public, the reforms encompass changes within its visual identity as well as its combat structure. Back in August 2025, MilitaryLand reported on the linearization process of the brigade, with the disbandment of the separate battalions under its command and reformed into linear units within the brigade.

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This is now being further developed under Shapoval, the new commander of the brigade. As part of these changes, experienced personnel from the 3rd Assault Brigade have likely been integrated into the unit, reflecting a wider corps-level effort to reinforce subordinate formations with proven combat leadership and operational experience.

This approach has already been observed across other brigades within the 3rd Army Corps and is intended to strengthen overall combat effectiveness and cohesion. Moreover, the brigade will likely see an integration of various units across the Ukrainian Defense Forces, which has been exemplified by the 60th Mechanized, and 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade; integrating experienced units to perform better and to bring the units up to strength.

These internal changes have now begun to be seen, with the emergence of a new visual identity for one of its battalions – the Motorized Battalion, which, as previously mentioned during the reforms in August 2025, was formed on the basis of the 51st Rifle Battalion. The battalion has now moved to adopt the iconic pointed chevron, which was also seen with a new brigade insignia.

The new brigade and battalion insignia appear here in a high-quality rendition redrawn exclusively for MilitaryLand.

The new insignia depicts a pointed chevron in tree poppy yellow and midnight blue colors, consistent with the rest of the insignias in the corps. The central imagery depicts a stylized variant of the Ukrainian national symbol, the Tryzub, used by Prince Volodymyr the Great, with these particular variants being stamped on gold and silver coins.

Additionally, the new insignia of the Motorized Battalion continues the new design of the pointed chevron, ditching the former appearance of an animal, and now utilizes bronze swirls with a stylized sword in the center, facing upwards.

Collectively, the 3rd Army Corps continues to advance its development at a faster pace than other formations within the Ukrainian Defense Forces. These ongoing reforms are reshaping the 63rd Mechanized Brigade, enabling it to meet the corps’ operational standards and improve its effectiveness within its area of responsibility.

This new direction, much like that seen in other maneuver brigades within the corps, has given the unit renewed momentum and points toward a more capable and effective future.