42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Hero of Ukraine Valeriy Hudz

42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Ukrainian Armed Forces

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Brigade News

42 окрема механізована бригада імені Героя України Валерія Гудзя

28 minutes 48 seconds ago

Мінус дві «буханки» разом із БК! Окупанти вирішили поповнити боєкомплект на своїх позиціях, але їх

42 окрема механізована бригада імені Героя України Валерія Гудзя

1 hour 18 minutes ago

Лиця 42 ОМБр! Позивний "Таксист"

42 окрема механізована бригада імені Героя України Валерія Гудзя updated their cover photo.

1 hour 54 minutes ago

42 окрема механізована бригада імені Героя України Валерія Гудзя

1 day 1 hour ago

До 42 бригади завітав міський голова Рогатина Сергій Насалик та передав нашим бійцям допомогу від жителів громади.

Цього разу до наших підрозділів передали Starlink — обладнання, яке допомагає військовим залишатися на зв'язку та ефективно виконувати бойові завдання.

Вчергове щиро дякуємо Сергію Степановичу, Рогатинська міська рада та всім жителям громади за підтримку 42-ї окремої механізованої бригади. Саме завдяки таким спільним зусиллям ми стаємо сильнішими.

Разом підтримуємо наших захисників. Разом наближаємо перемогу.

Origins and Chronicle of Combat Glory

42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade
The combat path of the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade is a story of professionalism, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of soldiers who stood to defend Ukraine in its darkest hours. The formation of the unit was a direct response to the challenges posed by Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against the territorial integrity and independence of our country.

Formation and Early Steps
Following a joint directive from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 17, 2023, the formation of the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade began at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center. The official date of the unit’s establishment was set as January 25, 2023.
The formation process was accompanied by intensive training and combat coordination. The personnel, composed of both experienced veterans and motivated volunteers, mastered modern weaponry and battlefield tactics. Immediately after completing their training, the brigade moved to frontline areas and began carrying out defensive operations to protect Ukraine.

Geography of Combat Achievements
The brigade’s combat path spans the hottest points on the front, where every step came at the cost of extraordinary effort and heroism.
Luhansk Region: Serebrianske Forestry
In May 2023, the brigade’s units took up defensive positions in the Kreminsky district of Luhansk. In extremely challenging forested terrain, the soldiers of the 42nd OMBR not only held off enemy attacks but also conducted successful counteroffensives in the Serebrianske forest area. Coordinated actions between artillery and infantry forced the enemy to abandon some positions and inflicted significant losses on their armored vehicles.
Donetsk Region: Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar
From autumn 2023, the brigade was redeployed to the Bakhmut direction. In fierce battles, personnel demonstrated remarkable determination, stopping enemy attempts to breach the front line. Units then transitioned to prolonged and exhausting defense in the Chasiv Yar sector. Despite heavy shelling and constant pressure, the soldiers accomplished their mission, preventing enemy advances on strategically vital positions.

Kharkiv Region: Battle for the Border
In March 2024, the brigade faced a new challenge — repelling an enemy offensive in the Kharkiv region. Battles for the towns of Vovchansk, Lyptsi, and Starytsia demanded exceptional tactical flexibility from both the command and the soldiers. The brigade combined maneuverable defense with offensive actions. Carefully planned operations not only stopped the enemy advance but also significantly depleted the invaders’ offensive capabilities in the region. The high motivation of the personnel and their ability to quickly adapt to changing battlefield conditions were key factors in this success.

Today: Unyielding on the Pokrovske Front
Today, the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade continues to write its story on the Pokrovske front — one of the most challenging sectors of the eastern front. Here, courage and heroism are a daily reality. Despite the enemy’s widespread use of artillery, air strikes, and assault units, the brigade’s soldiers hold every position, turning their strongpoints into virtually impregnable fortresses.
This is a stage showcases the highest level of professional skill: from assault troops engaged in close combat to UAV operators and artillery crews who precisely strike enemy logistics and reserves. Understanding the strategic importance of this sector, the personnel demonstrate extraordinary determination, thwarting all enemy plans to break through the defense.

Recognition and Honors
On August 24, 2024, Ukraine’s Independence Day, the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade was awarded the Battle Banner. This symbol of honor, valor, and glory serves as a testament to the state’s trust and as a call for every soldier to continue their devoted service to the Ukrainian people.
For personal courage shown in defending the nation’s sovereignty and for selfless fulfillment of military duty, 75 brigade personnel have been recognized with state awards.
*Order of Courage, 1st Class — 1 soldier
*Order of Courage, 2nd Class — 1 soldier
*Order of Courage, 3rd Class — 41 soldier
*Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 2nd Class — 5 officers
*Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class — 23 officers
*Order of Danylo Halytsky — 1 service member
*Medal for Military Service — 3 service members

In addition to state awards, 457 soldiers received departmental honors, and 8 service members were presented with personalized firearms.
The 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade continues its combat journey. Every day of fighting strengthens our belief in victory and confirms that Ukraine is under the reliable protection of professionals for whom honor and freedom are the highest values.

Lieutenant Colonel

VOKh Serhiy Ihorovych

Ukrainian service member, Lieutenant Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war, recipient of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky

Biography

In 2018, after graduating from the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy, he took command of a mountain assault platoon in the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. He participated in combat operations as part of the Joint Forces Operation in the areas of Krymske, Novopavlivka, and Shumy.

He met the full-scale invasion as the commander of a mountain assault company in the 109th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion. His unit carried out combat missions in the Kyiv region, where Russian forces were advancing toward Malyn and Fastiv. Following fierce battles, the enemy was halted, after which Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive, liberating several settlements, including the district center of Ivankiv.

From May to December 2022, he served as Deputy Commander of the 8th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion. During this time, his unit fought in the Donbas region (Lysychansk, Berestove) and in the Kharkiv sector (Vovchansk direction).

Since December 15, 2022, he has commanded the 109th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion, successfully stabilizing the defensive line and preventing enemy advances east of Yakovlivka in Donetsk Oblast

Since June 2024, he has served as Deputy Commander of the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, operating on the Kharkiv front. During this period, the enemy failed to capture a single settlement within the brigade’s defensive sector.

On May 19, 2025, he was appointed Commander of the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. Since August 2025, the brigade has held a defensive line along the border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts, confidently securing its assigned sector of the front.

Awards