25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine) explained

Unit Name:25th Separate Airborne "Sicheslav" Brigade
Native Name:Ukrainian: 25-та окрема повітрянодесантна «Січеславська» бригада
Dates:5 June 1993 – present[1]
Country: Ukraine
Branch: Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
Role:Air Assault Forces
Website:Official Facebook page
Current Commander:Colonel Yevhen Kurash
Garrison:Hvardiiske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Motto:No One But Us (Ukrainian: Ніхто, крім нас!)
Battles:
Decorations:
For Courage and Bravery

The 25th Separate Airborne Brigade "Sicheslav" (Ukrainian: 25-та окрема повітрянодесантна "Січеславська" бригада; 25 ОПДБр, Military Unit Number А1126) is an airborne formation of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

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

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.[8]

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.[8] [9]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[8]

During the 30th Independence Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky renamed the unit the 25th Separate Dnipropetrovsk Airborne Brigade.[10]

Combat operations

War in Donbass

See 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]

The 25th Brigade participated in the counteroffensive in the Kharkiv Oblast, publishing footage of its forces in the city of Izium on 10 September 2022.[18] 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.[19] In March 2024, Syrskyi publicly praised the 25th Brigade for its efforts in repelling Russian attacks on the villages of Berdychi and Orlivka.[20]

Structure

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:[21] [22]

Past commanders

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.[23] 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.[24] On June 28, 2022, the brigade was awarded the honorary citation "For Courage and Bravery".[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. From 8 of November 2002 — 25th Airborne Brigade
  2. Web site: Новини Управління Прес-служби МО . 2007-09-16 . 2011-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607173312/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=2637 . live .
  3. Web site: Боевая машина десантная БМД-1 . 2007-09-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070812051358/http://25ovdbr.desant.com.ua/bt.html . 2007-08-12 . dead .
  4. Web site: Новини Управління Прес-служби МО . 2007-09-16 . 2011-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607173323/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=7179 . live .
  5. Web site: Новини Управління Прес-служби МО . 2007-09-16 . 2011-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607173350/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=7300 . live .
  6. Web site: Новини Управління Прес-служби МО . 2007-09-16 . 2011-06-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607174140/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=6696 . live .
  7. Web site: Міністерство оборони України - Новини . 2007-09-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607172317/http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/print_news.php?id=5545&lang=ua . 2011-06-07 . dead .
  8. Web site: 25 Отдельная Днепропетровская Воздушно-десантная бригада ВС Украины. . 2014-12-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203211701/http://subscribe.ru/archive/state.army.vseovdv/200508/11181027.html . 2014-12-03 . ru.
  9. Web site: С момента формирования личный состав 25 овдбр принимал участие в многочисленных учениях, в том числе и международного масштаба, выполнял различные задачи командования . 2007-09-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070812051527/http://25ovdbr.desant.com.ua/budni.html . 2007-08-12 . dead .
  10. The president gave military units honorary titles in honor of historical figures, Historisna Pravda (24 August 2021)
  11. Web site: 49 die as pro-Russia rebels down Ukraine army plane. 14 June 2014. Los Angeles Times. 30 October 2014. 27 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141027204555/http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-army-plane-20140614-story.html. live.
  12. uk:Російські окупанти випустили з Криму дніпропетровських десантників зі зброєю . Russian occupiers released commandos from Dnipropetrovsk with their weapons . . March 25, 2014 . http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/25/7020290/ . Ukrainian . April 20, 2014 . April 25, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140425143156/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/25/7020290/ . live .
  13. http://lostarmour.info/spoils/ List of captured armored vehicles in the Ukrainian civil war.
  14. Web site: Украинские Новости . 30 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140417223308/http://un.ua/eng/article/504866.html . 17 April 2014 .
  15. Mstyslav Chernov. Peter Leonard. "Eastern Ukraine tense after outbreak of fighting" . Associated Press, 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015
  16. 1503755688174047234. UAWeapons.
    1. Ukraine: The complete destruction of a Russian T-72 variant by the 25th Airborne Brigade of Ukraine. It is not cl…
    . 15 March 2022.
  17. Web site: Трохи гарних новин у стрічку! . 25 окрема повітрянодесантна Січеславська бригада . . uk . Some good news in the feed! . Трохи гарних новин у стрічку! Ворожа техніка знищена разом з особовим складом! Десант працює! Смерть ворогам! Слава Україні! #stoprussia #ДШВ #ЗСУ #Завжди_Перші . March 18, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318225542/https://www.facebook.com/dshv25opdbr/posts/1920327891475642 . 2022-03-18 .
  18. Web site: Occupiers say they have left Izium and other settlements, while Ukrainian troops show a video: We are in Izium . 2022-09-15 . 2022-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922054919/https://money.yahoo.com/occupiers-left-izium-other-settlements-121652946.html . live .
  19. Web site: 2022-09-16 . 'Burns Well, Good Job' – Ukraine Downs Yet Another Russian Helicopter . 2022-09-11 . The Kyiv Post . en.
  20. Web site: Syrskyi dissatisfied with some brigade commanders, hints at personnel changes. Kyiv Independent. 2024-03-20. 2024-03-02. Martin. Fornusek.
  21. Web site: 2023-09-20 . 25 ОВДБр (В0440, 25-я отдельная Сечеславская воздушно-десантная бригада) . 2023-09-20 . wartears.org . uk.
  22. Web site: 25 ОПДБр - Передові захисники України . 2024-04-02 . 25-та окрема повітрянодесантна Січеславська бригада ЗСУ . uk.
  23. Web site: Указ Президента України № 414/2021 «Про присвоєння почесного найменування 25 окремій повітрянодесантній Дніпропетровській бригаді Десантно-штурмових військ Збройних Сил України». 25 August 2021. 25 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825172541/https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/4142021-39881.
  24. https://www.061.ua/news/3230195/v-zaporoze-prezident-zelenskij-prinal-prisagu-liceistov-i-prisvoil-pocetnye-naimenovania-dla-voinskih-castej-fotoreportaz У Запоріжжі президент України Володимир Зеленський надав почесні найменування та бойові прапори військовим частинам
  25. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 28 червня 2022 year № 450/2022 «Про відзначення почесною відзнакою «За мужність та відвагу»»

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