128th Heavy Mechanized Brigade


The 128th Heavy Mechanized Brigade "Wild Field" is a military formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in Dnipro. It is part of Operational Command East.
FB BrTODnipro

History

Formation

On 16 February 2022 Chief of Staff for Regional Territorial Defense Command of Operational Command East Yevhen Shcherban announced that a second brigade dedicated to defense of Dnipro will be created. Command of the unit was offered to Colonel Oleksandr Vodolazskyi on the 25th. Next day, 26 February the brigade was formed and began recruiting. 700 Soldiers signed up on the first day from over 3,000 who showed up.

Russo-Ukrainian War

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Soldiers from 231st Defense Battalion shot down a Mi-35M on 6 June in Donetsk Oblast. By August battalions of the brigade were dispersed in various parts of the front.
On 8 September 2022, the brigade's 233rd Battalion took control of the village of in the Kharkiv Oblast as part of a major Ukrainian operation there. Two days later, the 233rd took part in the capture of the Kharkiv Oblast villages of and.
On 14 October, the brigade received its battle flag.
Brigade commander Colonel Oleksandr Vodolazskyi received orders to retire due to his age on 22 February 2023. Colonel Rostyslav Rehinskyi became a new commander on 27 February 2023.
On 3 March President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the brigade was fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In July, the brigade was fighting in Donetsk Oblast.
On 5 December 2024, the brigade was awarded the honorary name "Wild Field" by decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In 2024, the brigade was transferred to the Ground Forces of Ukraine, and in July 2025 reformed into a heavy mechanized brigade.

Structure

As of 2022 the brigade's structure is as follows:
  • Headquarters
  • 230th Territorial Defense Battalion А7405
  • 231st Territorial Defense Battalion А7406
  • 232nd Territorial Defense Battalion А7407
  • 233rd Territorial Defense Battalion А7408
  • 234th Territorial Defense Battalion А7409
  • Engineering Company
  • Communication Company
  • Logistics Company
  • Mortar Battery

Commanders

  • Colonel Oleksandr Vodolazskyi 26 February 2022 – 27 February 2023
  • Colonel Rostyslav Rehinskyi 27 February 2023 – present