72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade
ORBAT last updated: 31/05/2024
72nd Mechanized Brigade “Black Zaporozhians” is a large unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, belonging to Operational Command North.
Headquartered in Bila Tserkva, south of Kyiv, it became widely known at the beginning of the full-scale invasion when it was the main unit in charge of defending the capital. Particularly heavy battles were fought in Moshchun and Hostomel’.
Later in 2022, the Brigade moved to the eastern front until reaching the vicinity of Vuhledar, in southern Donetsk Oblast, which the unit has been defending since then.
The first months of 2023 saw significant fighting in this area as Russian forces from the 155th and 40th Naval Infantry Brigades attempted large mechanized assaults on the 72nd Mechanized Brigade’s positions.
These assaults failed spectacularly with three-digit losses of armored vehicles on the Russian side.
Vuhledar has been standing since, despite further attempts to advance by the invading force.
Analysis/Notes
The three Mechanized Battalions are mounted on BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, though these are not frequently seen due to the Brigade’s defensive stance and relatively limited social media presence.
Company numbers indicate these are 3-company Battalions.
3rd Mechanized Battalion insignia A Motorized Infantry Battalion, formerly 12th Motorized Battalion “Kyiv”, is part of 72nd Mechanized Brigade. Its equipment is unknown but likely consists of pickup trucks and light vans.
Its 1st Company, “Black Company”, owns a specific Telegram Channel.
An FPV unit of unknown size named “Granit” has been seen with the Battalion and might organically be part of it or attached from Brigade.As seen with other pre-invasion Ukrainian units, two Rifle Battalions have been added to 72nd Mechanized since 2022.
No further information could be found on 1st and 2nd Rifle Battalions, other than the latter’s flag picturing Humvees, which are likely used as support vehicles by these subunits to move troops and supplies behind the frontline.
2nd Rifle Battalion flag 48th Separate Rifle Battalion, despite being “Separate” on paper, has been attached to the Brigade for more than a year and is likely permanently assigned to it.
The Tank Battalion mainly operates T-64BV Zr. 2017 tanks, with original T-64BVs also present.
Some captured T-72B3s might also be in the hands of the Battalion.
Insignia and flag, respectively for 2nd and 3rd Tank Companies The Artillery Group’s 1st Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion operates standard 2S1 Gvozdikas (122mm).
The 2nd Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion’s 2S3 Akatsiyas were entirely replaced by donated M109A3GN (155mm) howitzers in 2022 which, however, have barely been seen in 2024. They may have been moved elsewhere.
The Rocket Artillery Battalion uses BM-21 Grad MLRS.
The Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion has recently only been shown with 9K111 Fagot ATGMs.The Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion has at least one 9K35 Strela-10, likely complemented by ZU-23 guns.
These have been seen in standalone configuration, mounted on Ural trucks and mounted on an MTLB. The distribution of these mounted ZU-23s between every Battalion’s Anti-Aircraft Platoon and the Brigade’s Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion is uncertain.The Reconnaissance Company’s flag depicts a BMP-2, but it might simply be for cosmetic reasons.
Recon Company flag The Brigade’s Strike UAV Company (RUBpAK) is the widely known “Bulava” which mainly uses FPV drones.
Most battalions also have some sort of organic UAV capability (either used for observation, bombing/grenade drops or FPV attack).
Bulava RUBpAK flag IMR-2 engineering vehicles have been shown on 72nd Mechanized’s social media in a few occasions, probably employed by the Engineer Battalion.
The Medical Company has at least one MT-LB-S (medical variant).
Tank transporter trucks, possibly of the MAZ-537 type, have been shown by the Brigade’s social media.
Possible losses
A few M109s have been hit in the 72nd Mechanized Brigade’s area of operations over the course of 2023:
M109 near Bohoyavlenka, damaged and abandoned (january 2023)
M109A3GN near Bohoyavlenka, hit (february 2023)
M109 near Vodyane, abandoned (march 2023)
M109A3GN near Katerynivka, hit (march 2023)
Other losses:
BMP-2 in Vuhledar, hit, (april 2024)
Additional sources
72nd Mechanized Brigade Facebook, Telegram, MilitaryLand, UA Wikipedia, Instagram
Mechanized Battalions: BMP-2, BMP-2 (old), 3rd Company, 1MB, 1MB Medical Station, 1MB Deputy Commander (since 2021), 2MB, 3MB #1, 3MB #2, 3MB #3, 7th Company, Mk19
Motorized Infantry Battalion: not “12th” anymore, 1st Company
Rifle Battalions: 1SB in link, 1SB #1, 1SB complaining in 2022, 2SB pickup fundraiser
48th Separate Rifle Battalion: 48OSB, Fundraiser, insignia, 1st Company, searching for Squad Leader in 2023, civilian supplies
Tank Battalion: “T-64”, T-64BV Obr. 2017
1st Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion: Gvozdika
2nd Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion: flag, M109A3GN #1 (old), M109A3GN #1 (old)
Rocket Artillery Battalion: flag, 2nd Battery flag
Maintenance Battalion: flag