82nd Air Assault Brigade (Ukraine)

The brigade was announced as part of an expansion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine alongside the 21st Mechanized Brigade, 22nd Mechanized Brigade, 23rd Mechanized Brigade, 31st Mechanized Brigade, 32nd Mechanized Brigade, 33rd Mechanized Brigade, 49th Artillery Brigade, and the 47th Assault Brigade. Inital reports suggested that, alongside the aformentioned units, the 82nd will be outfitted with older equipment from existing units which are being retrofitted with new Western supplies.[1] However, the 2022–2023 Pentagon document leaks indicated the 82nd will be outfitted with new equipment that Ukraine has received in recent weeks. Including 14 Challenger 2s, 90 Strykers, 40 Marders and 24 M119 howitzers. Additionally, the brigade's core consists of veterans from the 25th Airborne Brigade and the 80th Air Assault Brigade which where trained on the new equipment in the United Kingdom. Forbes has speculated that the 82nd Air Assault Brigade will form part of the spearhead for the anticipated 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[2]