The 1st Tank Brigade as far as I had read a few weeks ago would have two operational tank battalions (with T-64BVs); it had never been brought up to 100% capabilities after the losses during the Battle of Chernihiv, in which it was essential in blocking the advance of the Central Military District towards Kyiv. Currently it’s providing armoured support to the marines' actions in the Velyka Novosilka sector.

Yes, there had been reports that it was supposed to receive an entire battalion of Leopard 2A5/6s, but then there were no updates. Apparently the Leopard 2A6s have gone to the 47th Mech Brigade (not sure if all of them, but I’d guess so) while the Strv 122s (Swedish Leo 2A5s) should have been acquired by the 21st Mech Brigade. It had also been written that the 4th Tank Brigade should have gotten one of the two battalions of Leopard 2A4s, although this has not been confirmed ever since either (the 33rd Mech has the other, anyway).

Thanks for the updates!

I wonder if some of the Territorial Defence brigades could be used as a pool to recruit men for the new “regular” brigades and thus left undermanned. When it comes to several TD brigades that had suffered very heavy losses in the past, such as the 119th TD Brigade around Soledar, I’ve heard nothing about whether they would be reorganizing or not. Other TD brigades on the other hand would have received mechanized platoons with BTR-70s as far as I could see; the 110th TD Brigade has gotten a handful of captured T-62s if I recall correctly. Some of the TD brigades are fighting and growing well (I’m thinking of the 127th) and may deserve to become motorized or mechanized brigades.

Do you have any updates on the 88th Mech? I never knew if their deployment around Kupyansk had been confirmed or not. The 13th Jager Brigade, on the other hand, posted a video on their FB page a couple of weeks ago in which they wrote they were in the “northern operational zone”. Perhaps on the border with Belgorod Oblast? This is the first news about them in months.

I absolutely agree with the need to group the Air Assault Forces into one sector, along the lines of the Marine Corps in the Velyka Novosilka sector - we are partly starting to witness this in the direction of Tokmak (82nd and 46th Airmobile Brigades, elements of the 71st Jager Brigades with probably support from the 78th Air Assault Regiment). The Air Assault Forces have good command structure and officers, it makes sense to try to concentrate them in as few areas as possible that are deemed as particularly important. Seeing the 81st Airmobile Brigade in Bilohorivka since October and the 79th Air Assault Brigade in Marinka since last September feels almost a waste. Especially now that Russian efforts in Marinka have thinned out with them moving part of the 150th MRD to Bakhmut.

I wonder if the new Reserve Rifle Brigades being formed will be used to relieve brigades deployed in hot sectors but without major territorial changes, such as Avdiivka (as has already happened with the 142nd Rifle Brigade, whose deployment allowed the 35th and 36th Marine Brigades to be moved to Velyka Novosilka) or Marinka. In my opinion, the purpose of these new brigades will be to make the role of the TDF more efficient and free up veteran brigades for other areas.

I had seen this, maybe it’s a different page: https://www. facebook.com/watch/?v=829699178871385

The 88th Mech was reported being active in the sector of Kupyansk in late May and then for some reason nothing was heard about them anymore. Not even the Russians ever mentioned it. At this point I’d wager it’s still in training.

P.S. Have you heard anything about the new 39th Marine Brigade?