25th_Airborne_Brigade_(Ukraine)

25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine)

25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine)

Ukrainian Air Assault Forces formation

The 25th Separate Airborne Brigade "Sicheslav" (Ukrainian: 25-та окрема повітрянодесантна Січеславська бригада)[2] is an airborne formation of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

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The brigade is the only airborne unit of Ukrainian Air Assault Forces which possesses BMD-1[3][4] and BMD-2[5][6][7] airborne infantry fighting vehicles, and is the only unit which can be deployed anywhere by parachute, together with armored vehicles, from Il-76MD aircraft.[8]

History

Between 25 June and 11 August 1969, the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment (Base #11389 [Military Unit No.11389?]) of the 98th Guards Airborne Division of the Soviet Airborne Forces was located in Bolhrad, Odesa Oblast, now in modern Ukraine.[9]

After the dissolution of the USSR, the 98th Guards Airborne Division was split between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. In the spring of 1993, the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment was relocated to Ivanovo, Russia, together with the regiment's war flag, the Order of Kutuzov, and 55% of its supplies.[9][10]

Current unit

The Ukrainian airmobile brigade was formed in Bolhrad in May 1993, following an order by the Ukrainian Minister of Defence. It was created from the elements of the Soviet 217th Guards Airborne Regiment. On 1 December 1993, the brigade was established as one of the units of the 1st Airmobile Division.[9] From October 1995 until December 1999, 800 paratroopers from the brigade served as part of the 240th Special Battalion in the countries of former Yugoslavia, later serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo.[10]

Between May and June 2002, the brigade was relocated to Hvardiyske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. It was given the honorable designation "Dnipropetrovsk" for their battle achievements and high level of professionalism. On 16 July 2002, it was awarded its new war flag by the then Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma. The brigade was transferred from the 1st Airmobile Division to the 6th Army Corps on 8 November 2002.[9]

During the 30th Independence Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky renamed the unit the 25th Separate Dnipropetrovsk Airborne Brigade.[2]

Combat operations

War in Donbass

Main article: Ukrainian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 shoot-down

On 13 June 2014, an IL-76 transport plane was shot down near Luhansk, Ukraine, killing 40 25th Airborne Brigade troops. According to a statement released by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, "On the night of June 13–14, firing from an anti-aircraft gun and a large-caliber machine gun, anti-regime forces cynically and treacherously shot down a Ukraine armed forces transport plane IL-76 which was bringing personnel for rotation."[11]

A company of the brigade was deployed to Crimea during the 2014 Crimean crisis. It became one of the few, if not the only, Ukrainian units to leave Crimea as a unit, still bearing their arms.[12]

Two of the brigade's infantry fighting vehicles were captured by rebels during the war in Donbas. Both vehicles, in addition to a 2S9 Nona-S, were captured and used by the separatist militants.[13] After elements of the brigade surrendered six vehicles to pro-Russian separatists in the 2014 Sloviansk standoff.[14] Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov announced his intention to disband the brigade, a decision that was later reversed. Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the brigade has taken an active role in the fighting in Eastern Ukraine.[15]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

The brigade has participated in the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 15 March 2022, a video was released showing a Russian tank being destroyed by the brigade.[16] On 18 March 2022, the brigade released more photographs of destroyed Russian T-72s.[17]

In September 2022, the brigade was seen reaching the outskirts of Kupiansk alongside SBU Alpha Group, the 92nd Mechanized Brigade, and the 80th Air Assault Brigade. On the same day, the Kyiv Post reported the liberation of Kupiansk, despite the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operational silence.[18] The UK Ministry of Defence commented that the capture of the city dealt a "significant blow" to the Russian forces, as it was a central supply point that connected to the Donbas region.[19] On 16 October 2023, Ukrainian Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade had shot down a Mi-8. He did not specify the location.[20] In March 2024, Syrskyi publicly praised the 25th Brigade for its efforts in repelling Russian attacks on the villages of Berdychi and Orlivka.[21]

Structure

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:[22][23]

  • 25th Airborne Brigade, Hvardiiske
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Airborne Battalion
    • 2nd Airborne Battalion
    • 3rd Airborne Battalion
    • Sniper Platoon
    • Aerial Reconnaissance Unit "Alastor"
    • Artillery Group
      • Self-Propelled Artillery Division (2S9 Nona)
      • Howitzer Artillery Division (D-30)
      • Rocket Artillery Division (BM-21 Grad)
      • Anti-Tank Guided Missile Battery (9K111 Fagot)
    • Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Division
    • Field Communications Center
    • Reconnaissance Landing Company
    • Tank Company (Air Transportable) (T-80BV)
    • Engineer and Sapper Company
    • Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
    • Maintenance Company
    • Landing Support Company
    • Material Support Company
    • Medical Company
    • Proving Grounds
    • Brigade Band

Past commanders

  • Colonel Ivan Volodymyrovych Aleshchenko 1993 - 1996
  • Colonel Oleksandr Mykolaiovych Zashchytnikov 1996 - 1998
  • Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy Anatoliovych Garbus 1998 - 1999
  • Colonel Andriy Ivanovych Maksymenko 1999 - 2001
  • Colonel Ihor Vasyliovych Luniov 2001 - 2003
  • Colonel Ihor Yaroslavovych Stelmah 2003 - 2004
  • Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Vasyliovych Kolchik 2004 - 2006
  • Colonel Oleh Volodymyrovych Svystak 2006 - 2007
  • Colonel Yuriy Ivanovych Sodol' 2007–present

Honours

On 23 August 2021, in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 414/2021, the brigade was assigned the honorary name "Sycheslavska". The Decree of the President of Ukraine of 16 July 2002 No. 654 "On assigning the honorary name "Dnipropetrovsk" to 25 separate airborne units brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" retired its previous name from official use.[24] On 14 October 2021, during Zelenskiy's visit to Zaporizhzhia on the island of Khortytsia,, brigade commander Colonel Yevhen Kurash was presented with the brigade's new Regimental Colour.[25] On June 28, 2022, the brigade was awarded the honorary citation "For Courage and Bravery".[26]

References

  1. [1]
    From 8 of November 2002 — 25th Airborne Brigade
  2. [2]
    (in Ukrainian) The president gave military units honorary titles in honor of historical figures Archived 2022-08-03 at the Wayback Machine, Historisna Pravda (24 August 2021)
  3. [3]
    "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  4. [4]
    "Боевая машина десантная БМД-1". Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  5. [5]
    "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  6. [6]
    "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  7. [7]
    "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  8. [8]
    "Міністерство оборони України - Новини". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
  9. [9]
    "25 Отдельная Днепропетровская Воздушно-десантная бригада ВС Украины" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  10. [10]
    "С момента формирования личный состав 25 овдбр принимал участие в многочисленных учениях, в том числе и международного масштаба, выполнял различные задачи командования". Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  11. [11]
    "49 die as pro-Russia rebels down Ukraine army plane". Los Angeles Times. 14 June 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  12. [12]
    Російські окупанти випустили з Криму дніпропетровських десантників зі зброєю [Russian occupiers released commandos from Dnipropetrovsk with their weapons]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  13. [13]
    List of captured armored vehicles in the Ukrainian civil war. Archived 2014-09-03 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  14. [14]
    "Украинские Новости". Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  15. [15]
    Mstyslav Chernov. Peter Leonard. "Eastern Ukraine tense after outbreak of fighting" Archived 2015-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Associated Press, 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015
  16. [16]
    @UAWeapons (15 March 2022). "#Ukraine: The complete destruction of a Russian T-72 variant by the 25th Airborne Brigade of Ukraine. It is not cl…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. [17]
    25 окрема повітрянодесантна Січеславська бригада (18 March 2022). "Трохи гарних новин у стрічку!" [Some good news in the feed!]. Facebook (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Трохи гарних новин у стрічку! Ворожа техніка знищена разом з особовим складом!🔥 Десант працює! Смерть ворогам! Слава Україні!🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 #stoprussia #ДШВ #ЗСУ #Завжди_Перші{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) [user-generated source] (registration required)
  18. [18]
    "Ukrainian Forces Capture Key Town as Counteroffensive Gathers Pace: Kyiv". MSN. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  19. [19]
    Cole, Brendan (10 September 2022). "Russia taken by surprise as Ukraine counterattack advances 30 miles: U.K." Newsweek. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  20. [20]
    "'Burns Well, Good Job' – Ukraine Downs Yet Another Russian Helicopter". The Kyiv Post. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  21. [21]
    Fornusek, Martin (2 March 2024). "Syrskyi dissatisfied with some brigade commanders, hints at personnel changes". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  22. [22]
    "25 ОВДБр (В0440, 25-я отдельная Сечеславская воздушно-десантная бригада)". wartears.org (in Ukrainian). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  23. [23]
    "25 ОПДБр - Передові захисники України". 25-та окрема повітрянодесантна Січеславська бригада ЗСУ (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  24. [24]
    "Указ Президента України № 414/2021 «Про присвоєння почесного найменування 25 окремій повітрянодесантній Дніпропетровській бригаді Десантно-штурмових військ Збройних Сил України»". Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  25. [25]
    У Запоріжжі президент України Володимир Зеленський надав почесні найменування та бойові прапори військовим частинам Archived 2021-10-14 at the Wayback Machine // ', 2021-10-14 (in Russian)
  26. [26]
    Decree of the President of Ukraine from 28 червня 2022 year № 450/2022 «Про відзначення почесною відзнакою «За мужність та відвагу»» Archived 2022-06-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
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