25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine)
| 25th Airborne Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Sleeve patch for the 25 Airborne Brigade | |
| Active | 5 June 1993 – Present[1] |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Allegiance | 6th Guard Army Corps (Ukraine) |
| Branch | Ukrainian Airmobile Forces |
| Type | Brigade |
| Role | Airborne |
| Part of | 6th Guard Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | А1126 Hvardiiske, Novomoskovsk Raion, Ukraine |
| Motto(s) | "Nobody but us" |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Yuriy Sodol'[2] |
The 25th Separate Dnipropetrovsk Airborne Brigade (Template:Lang-uk[3]) is a airborne formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. After elements surrendered 6 vehicles to pro-Russian separatists in the 2014 Sloviansk standoff, [4] Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov announced the brigade would be disbanded. But this decision was canceled later on. Despite this the Brigade has taken an active role in the fighting in Eastern Ukraine.
It is the only airmobile unit of Ukrainian Airborne Forces which has BMD-1[5][6] and BMD-2[7][8][9] airborne infantry fighting vehicles in its inventory. In addition, it is the only unit which can bedropped anywhere by parachute, together with their armored vehicles, from Il-76MD and An-70 aircraft.[10]
History
Between June 25 and August 11, 1969, the 217th Guards Parachute Airborne Regiment (Base #11389 [Military Unit No.11389?]) of the 13th Airmobile Order of Kutuzov II degree Division as part of the 37th Guards Svirsk Airborne Corps, Soviet Airborne Troops was relocated to Bolhrad (Bolgrad), Odessa Oblast.[11]
After the dissolution of the USSR, the 98th Airborne Division was split between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. In the spring of 1993, the 217th Parachute Airborne Regiment was relocated to Ivanovo in Russia. The regiment's Battle Flag, Order of Kutuzov, and 55% of the supplies were also relocated.[11][12]
Current unit
By the order of Minister of Defence of Ukraine the new Ukrainian airmobile brigade based on the Soviet 217th Guards Parachute Airborne Regiment was formed in Bolgrad in May 1993. By December 1, 1993, the brigade was finally formed as one of the units of the 1st Airmobile Division.[11]
From October 1995 until December 1999, 800 paratroopers from the brigade served as part of the 240th Special Battalion in former Yugoslavia. Later they served as peacekeepers in Kosovo.[12]
Between May and June 2002, the Brigade was relocated to the urban-type settlement Hvardiyske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The brigade was given the honorable designation "Dnipropetrovsk", for their battle achievements and high level of professionalism. On July 16, 2002, Leonid Kuchma awarded the unit with its new Battle Flag.[11]
By the order of the Minister of Defence the Brigade was transferred from the 1st Airmobile Division to the 6th Army Corps on November 8, 2002.[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 unit to leave Crimea as a unit, still bearing their arms.[13]
Transport plane shot down
On June 13, 2014, an IL-76 Transport was shot down killing forty 25th Airborne Brigade troopers near Luhansk, Ukraine. “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,” said in a statement posted on the Defense Ministry's official website.[14]
Brigade Order of Battle
- Main Component
Headquarters- 1st Parachute Airborne Battalion
2nd Parachute Airborne Battalion- 3rd Parachute Airborne Battalion
- Auxiliary
- Brigade's Artillery Group
- Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
Airmobile Reconnaissance Company
- Support
- Engineer Company
Chemical Company
Maintenance Company
Medical Company
Firefighting Company
Supply Company
Band
Field Training Site(Range)
Past commanders
- Colonel Ivan Volodumurovuch Aleshchenko 1993 - 1996
- Colonel Oleksandr Mukolaiovuch Zashchutnikov 1996 - 1998
- Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy Anatoliovuch Garbus 1998 - 1999
- Colonel Andriy Ivanovuch Maksumenko 1999 - 2001
- Colonel Ihor Vasiliovuch Lunev 2001 - 2003
- Colonel Ihor Yaroslavovuch Stelmah 2003 - 2004
- Lieutenant Colonel Volodumyr Vasiliovuch Kolchik 2004 - 2006
- Colonel Oleh Volodumurovuch Svystak 2006 - 2007
- Colonel Yuriy Ivanovuch Sodol' 2007–present
References
- ^ From 8 of November 2002 — 25th Separate Airborne Brigade
- ^ Template:Uk icon First Jump for 200 new paratroopers
- ^ President.Gov.Ua
- ^ "Украинские Новости". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
- ^ Боевая машина десантная БМД-1
- ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
- ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
- ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
- ^ Міністерство оборони України - Новини
- ^ a b c d e Template:Ru icon http://subscribe.ru/archive/state.army.vseovdv/200508/11181027.html
- ^ a b С момента формирования личный состав 25 овдбр принимал участие в многочисленных учениях, в том числе и международного масштаба, выполнял различные задачи командования
- ^ Російські окупанти випустили з Криму дніпропетровських десантників зі зброєю [Russian occupiers released commandos from Dnepropetrovsk with their weapons]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). March 25, 2014.
- ^ "49 die as pro-Russia rebels down Ukraine army plane". latimes.com. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
External links
