63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade

Most of us had no prior connection to the military, but when trouble came to our land, we had to learn new skills. The 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade is one of many brigades in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In short, we have infantry units, artillery divisions, a tank battalion, and a drone systems battalion — those are the forces that directly destroy the enemy. As in every brigade, we also have many rear services and departments where service members handle paperwork, prepare food, and provide clothing and footwear.

Of course, the brigade includes reconnaissance, medics, psychologists, analysts, journalists, accountants, mechanics, and more. In addition, only in our brigade do we have a modern mobile dental clinic and an equipment production facility. We actively cooperate with charitable organizations, well-known athletes, politicians, patrons, and partners. In one word, our brigade is like a large company with a general manager and many departments. Everyone works together toward a common result.

Discipline and responsibility come first in our brigade. Each service member should reflect before sleep on what useful thing they did for the brigade during the day and how it will help tomorrow. There is no room here for slackers or for those who like to take credit for other people’s work. In this way we have fully moved away from the typical Soviet-style army toward a modern military. The Soviet phrase “initiative is punished” does not apply here — on the contrary, the more you show smart initiative, the easier and more productive your service will be.

Yes, conditions are not luxurious — much time must be spent in basements because the enemy constantly tries to find and destroy our personnel — but for the greater cause these inconveniences can be endured.

To sum up: we, the service members of the 63rd Brigade, know why we went to war. Our mission is to bring Victory closer through the work and effort of every single person. Our goal is to preserve the state, the language, and the nation. Our dream is to return to our families and look them in the eye with no shame.