The 44th Mechanized Brigade received Western equipment
3 August, 2023 Polish Rosomak armored personnel carrier. Illustration photo The 44th Mechanized Brigade received armored personnel carriers and tanks of Western production.
Militaryland reported on this. Photos that the Ukrainian soldiers posted on social media reveal that the 44th Mechanized Brigade, formed in 2023, received KTO Rosomak armored personnel carriers and Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks. According to the publication, part of the brigade is currently in Poland for training, but will soon head back to Ukraine with new equipment.
A brigade's mechanized battalion received Polish-donated BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles a while ago. Currently, the unit is already deployed and participating in combat operations. The remaining two mechanized battalions will likely be equipped with Rosomak armored personnel carriers.
The 44th Mechanized Brigade armed with Polish KTO Rosomak armored personnel carrier with a 30mm automatic cannon.
Photo from open sources
The armored personnel carriers transferred by Poland are equipped with the Hitfist-30P turret, a Mk.44 30mm automatic cannon, and a 7.62mm machine gun. The turret is equipped with night vision sights and a laser range finder. These armored personnel carriers were already previously seen in Ukraine, but it is not clear whether they belonged to the 44th Mechanized Brigade.
In addition, an unknown number of Slovenian Valuk 6x6 armored personnel carriers armed with an open turret for a large-caliber machine gun were also transferred to the brigade's units.
- The 44th Mechanized Brigade armed with the Slovenian Valuk 6x6 armored personnel carrier. Photo from open sources
- Slovenian Valuk 6x6 armored personnel carrier. The photo is illustrative
In April of this year, Militarnyi reported that Slovenia transferred 20 Valuk armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
It is an improved version of the Pandur 6x6 APC. The country had 85 such vehicles in service. In addition, public sources suggest that the brigade is also equipped with Canadian Roshel Senator armored vehicles.
These vehicles are purchased in large quantities for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The brigade's artillery unit acquired 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers.
The 44th Mechanized Brigade armed with 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. Photo from open sources
According to Militaryland, the brigade should also incorporate at least one tank company or a whole battalion of Leopard 1A5s.
The transfer of these tanks has already been announced several times, with a delivery date of this summer.