4th Heavy Mechanized Brigade


The 4th Heavy Mechanized Brigade is an brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

History

The 4th Tank Brigade was established in late 2017 with the purpose of serving as a reserve unit to the 1st and 17th Tank Brigades within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It was equipped with T-64 and T-72 tanks. The brigade underwent training and preparation for combat, including a final stage of combat readiness at Honcharivske training base, the home of the 1st Tank Brigade, in July 2018.
During the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2019, the 4th Brigade was sent to the Joint Forces Operation Zone to support the 72nd Mechanized and 36th Marines brigades. The brigade was equipped with T-72 and BMP-2 IFVs, and various artillery pieces. In October of that year, the brigade participated in a joint exercise that involved crossing a river, supported by attack helicopters, and attacking suspected enemy positions.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the 4th Tank Brigade was deployed to help defend the northeastern part of the country. The brigade played a significant role in the battle of Kharkiv and subsequent Eastern Ukraine offensive. It was initially deployed in the area of Sloviansk-Kramatorsk as a reserve unit and later stationed south of Izium. According to Ukrainian military journalist, the 4th Tank Brigade took part in the major Ukrainian offensive in the Kharkiv Oblast in September 2022.
On August 1st, 2025, the 4th Tank Brigade was stripped of its third tank battalion in accordance with its conversion to a Heavy Mechanized Brigade. It was the last Ukrainian Ground Forces unit to be thus converted.

Structure

As of 2023 the brigade's structure was as follows: