23rd Reconnaissance Battalion (Ukraine)


The 23rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion is a battalion of the Ukrainian ground forces acting as an independent unit subordinated to first, the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, then the 116th Mechanized Brigade and now, the 118th Mechanized Brigade. It has seen combat during both the War in Donbass and the Russo-Ukrainian war, initially as a rifle battalion and has been performing reconnaissance and combat operations throughout the entire front.

History

In 2015, the 23rd Separate Rifle Battalion was created to defend Kyiv.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, volunteers joined the battalion and it saw combat action. On 24 March 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action during the Battle of Kyiv. In March 2022, it took part in the Battle of Irpin and also performed clearing operations after the city's liberation.
It saw heavy action in Novomykhailivka. On 15 July 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action in Novomykhailivka. On 17 July 2022, a soldier of the brigade was killed in action in Novomykhailivka. On 31 July 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action in Novomykhailivka. On 2 August 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action in Novomykhailivka. On 20 August 2022, two soldiers of the battalion were killed in action in Novomykhailivka. On 22 August 2022, four soldiers of the battalion were killed in combat in Novomykhailivka. On 24 August 2022, a soldier of the brigade was killed in combat in Novomykhailivka. On 26 August 2022, two soldiers of the battalion were killed in combat in Novomykhailivka. On 28 August 2022, two soldiers of the battalion were killed in combat in Novomykhailivka. On 31 August 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in combat in Novomykhailivka.
On 6 September 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in Donetsk Oblast. On 8 September 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action during the Battle of Shakhtarsk. On 21 September 2022, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action during the Battle of Shakhtarsk.
On 1 November 2022, two soldiers of the battalion were killed in combat in Donetsk Oblast. On 5 November 2022, a soldier of the battalion went MIA. On 19 November 2022, two soldiers of the battalion were killed in combat in Donetsk Oblast.
In 2023–2024, it saw heavy action during the Battle of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast suffering ~20 killed and ~80 wounded. A soldier of the battalion was killed in combat on 31 March 2023, in Torske. As of August 2023, the battalion was fighting in the Donetsk Oblast as part of the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. On 6 September 2023, a soldier of the battalion was killed in combat in Velyka Novosilka. On 30 November 2023, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action.
On 25 January 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action in Torske. On 21 February 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action during the Battle of Kreminna. On 17 May 2024, the battalion conducted combined air and ground drone attacks on Russian positions and a soldier of the battalion was killed in action in Donetsk Oblast. On 12 July 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action in Donetsk Oblast. In July 2024, it was conducting FPV drone attacks. On 30 July 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action. On 7 August 2024, two soldiers of the battalion were killed in Torske. On 17 August 2024, a soldier of the Battalion was killed in action. In late August 2024, it was using ground drones armed with artillery ammunition on the battlefield.
On 5 September 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed during the Battle of Kreminna. On 7 September 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed in action. In September 2024, it was deployed to fight in Kharkiv Oblast as part of the 116th Mechanized Brigade. On 22 September 2024, two soldiers of the battalion were killed during the Battle of Kupiansk. On 23 September 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed during the Battle of Kupiansk. In September 2024, its personnel were demanding the resignation of the battalion commander. On 15 October 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed during the Battle of Kupiansk. On 17 October 2024, a soldier of the battalion was killed during the Battle of Kupiansk. In December 2024, the battalion was withdrawn from the frontlines for replenishment.
In February 2025, it became part of the 118th Mechanized Brigade and was deployed to take part in the Battle of Orikhiv. In August 2025, it was transformed into a reconnaissance battalion.

Commanders

  • Colonel Demchuk Oleksandr Mykolayovych
  • Lieutenant Colonel Avgustinovych Dmytro Viktorovych