5th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

The 5th Mechanized Brigade was a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces sent to Iraq in August 2003. Brigade was deployed from 17 August 2003 to March 2004.

Mission objectives

 * Maintain stability and safety in Wasit Governorate
 * Reconnaissance and destruction of terrorist and organized crime groups, detainment and court judgment of military criminals
 * Provide support for Coalition Provisional Authority in reconstruction of civil departments
 * Provide help with development of judicial system, which supports the rights of all Iraqi residents, and provides inner security
 * Provide support together with other organizations in rebuilding of schooling, medical, electrical and water systems, industrial complexes, creation of new work places
 * Form and train a battalion of Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC)
 * Form and train 3 battalions for the Department of Border enforcement (DBE)

Operations

 * Operation Chamberlain

Brigade Order of Battle

 * 51st Mechanized Battalion
 * 52nd Mechanized Battalion
 * 19th Specialized Battalion

Casualties

 * Sgt. Yuriy Koydan – Died of injuries suffered when his BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicle overturned while patrolling an air base near Al Kūt in southern Iraq on 30 September 2003
 * Private Sergiy Suslov – Died from a non-combat related injury.
 * Captain Oleksii Bondarenko – Committed suicide by shooting himself in Al Kūt, Iraq, on 19 November 2003

Next rotation

 * 6th Mechanized Brigade