53rd Reconnaissance Battalion (Ukraine)
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 53rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion (MUN A4220) is a battalion of the Ukrainian ground forces acting as an independent unit, formerly subordinated to the 116th Mechanized Brigade. It has seen combat during the Russo-Ukrainian war, initially as a rifle battalion and has been performing reconnaissance and combat operations throughout the entire front. It was established in 2022.
| 53rd Reconnaissance Battalion | |
|---|---|
| 53-й окремий розвідувальний батальйон | |
Battalion's insignia | |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Allegiance |  Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type | Battalion, spetsnaz |
| Role | Reconnaissance, counteroffensive and sabotage |
| Part of | 116th Mechanized Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Lviv Oblast |
| Engagements | |
History
It was established in 2022 as the 53rd Rifle Battalion in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and was later subordinated to the 116th Mechanized Brigade.[1] On 17 September 2022, two soldiers of the battalion (Baran Oleh Bohdanovych[2] and Matush Maryan Josephovych[3]) were killed in action. On 27 September 2022, a soldier of the battalion (Bochek Yuri Viktorovych) died as a result of injuries sustained in combat.[4]
On 19 February 2023, two soldiers of the battalion (Nykel Ivan Ivanovych[5] and Kondzelko Andri Stepanovych[6]) were killed during the Battle of Bakhmut. Two soldiers of the battalion (Rizak Maksym Volodymyrovych[7] and Moroz Volodymyr Mykolaovych[8]) went MIA in Bakhmut on 19 and 21 February 2023. On 11 March 2023, a soldier of the battalion (Klontsak Mykola Volodymyrovych) was killed in Bakhmut.[9] On 13 March 2023, a soldier of the battalion (Lutsiv Vasyl Vasylovych) was killed in Bakhmut.[10] On 22 March 2023, a soldier of the battalion (Synytsia Volodymyr Ivanovych) was killed in Bakhmut.[11] On 29 March 2023, a soldier of the battalion (Kinash Orest Myroslavovych) was killed in Bakhmut.[12] On 1 April 2023, a soldier of the battalion (Kaspryshyn Vasyl Romanovych) went MIA in Bakhmut.[13] On 13 September 2023, a soldier of the battalion (Vyshynsky Vasyl Yevstakhovych) was killed in action.[14]
On 17 March 2024, a soldier of the battalion (Barna Andri Vasylovych) went MIA and was later confirmed to be dead in November 2024.[15][16] On 5 May 2024, a soldier of the battalion (Bilas Petro Petrovych) was killed in Staromaiorske.[17] Another soldier of the battalion (Sakhno Mykhailo Romanovych) was killed in Staromaiorske on 7 May 2024.[18] Two soldiers of the battalion (Khmilevsky Nazar Ihorovych[19] and Vaskiv Andri Mykolaovych[20]) were killed in Makarivka on 9 May 2024. On 9 August 2024, a soldier of the battalion (Vistovsky Volodymyr Vasylovych) was killed in Vozdvyzhenka.[21] On 23 August 2024, a soldier of the battalion (Bohatishchev Bohdan Volodymyrovych) was killed in Novohrodivka.[22] On 29 August 2024, a soldier of the battalion (Lopushynsky Petro Petrovych) was killed in action.[23] On 30 November 2024, a soldier of the battalion (Kostenko Kostantyn Anatoliovych) went MIA in Kurakhove.[24]
On 10 March 2025, three soldiers of the battalion (Rachkevych Mykhailo Viktorovych,[25] Pikhurko Petro Bohdanovych and Kikh Petro Petrovych[26]) were killed in Shevchenkove. On 20 April 2025, a soldier of the battalion (Nykyfyrov Vasyl Viktorovych) was killed in action.[27] On 18 July 2025, a soldier of the battalion (Havile Andri Mykolaovych) was killed in action.[28] In August 2025, it became a reconnaissance battalion.[1]
Equipment
- Autel EVO Max 4T[29]
- BRDM-2[30]
- Mitsubishi L200[30]
- Ford Ranger[30]