72nd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)
 | This article needs to be updated. (July 2014) |
| 29th Rifle Division (1941-43) 72nd Guards Rifle Division (1943-57) 72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division (1957-1992) 72nd Guards Mechanized Division (1992-2001) 72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade (2002-present) | |
|---|---|
 72nd Mechanized Brigade Sleeve Patch | |
| Active | December 5, 1941[1] - Present |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Branch | Ukrainian Army |
| Type | Brigade |
| Role | Mechanized |
| Size | ~3,000 |
| Part of | 8th Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Bila Tserkva, Kiev Oblast |
| Equipment | T-64[2] |
| Engagements | World War II Soviet war in Afghanistan 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine[3] |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lieutenant General Sergiy Ostrovskiy[4] |
The 72nd Mechanized Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It was previously named the 29th Rifle Division (2nd formation) and then the 72nd Guards Rifle Division of the Soviet Ground Forces. in 1957, it became a motor rifle division.
History
World War II
On February 2, 1943 the Battle of Stalingrad was finally over. Due to the heroism of the soldiers the 29th Rifle Division (2nd formation) was redesignated the 72nd Guard Rifle Division by Directorate of the General Staff order №104 on March 1, 1943.
| 29th Rifle Division | 72nd Guard Rifle Division |
|---|---|
| 106 Rifle Regiment | 222 Guards Rifle Regiment |
| 128 Rifle Regiment | 224 Guards Rifle Regiment |
| 77 Artillery Regiment | 155 Guards Artillery Regiment |
On March 3, 1943, 72nd Guard Rifle Division was involved in battles for liberation of Belgorod. Soon they were near Kharkiv and Krasnohrad.
Cold War
The 72nd Guards Rifle Division became a motor rifle division stationed in the Kiev Military District at Bila Tserkva on 4 June 1957. It was part of the 1st Army. On 19 February 1962 , the 280th Separate Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated. A missile battalions was also activated on the same day. In 1968, the 220th Separate Guards Sapper Battalion became an Engineer Sapper Battalion. In 1972, the 191st Separate Chemical Defence Company became the 23rd Separate Chemical Defence Battalion. The 1345th Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated on 15 November 1972. The motor transport battalion became the 892nd Separate Material Supply Battalion in 1980. In 1990, the division was equipped was equipped with 133 T-64 main battle tanks. During the Cold War, the division was maintained at 25% strength, with one full strength regiment.[5]
Ukraine
After the fall of the Soviet Union it was transferred to Ukraine. In 1992, Colonel Volodymyr Lytvyntsevu - Commander 72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Kiev Military District was given the rank of Major General. (Edict of the President of Ukraine No.90/92, 20 лютого 1992)
On August 23, 1995, Colonel Nikolai Nikolaevich Tsytsyurskomu, Commander 72nd Mechanized Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps of the Odessa Military District, was given the rank of Major-General. (Edict of the President of Ukraine No.792/95) On June 29, 1999 the 72nd Guards Mechanized Division of the North Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was given the honorary title of "Kiev".[6]
In accordance with a decree of August 23, 1998, division commander Colonel Grigoriy Pedchenko was promoted to major-general.[7] It was reduced in size to a mechanized brigade in 2002.
In May 2014 72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade was involved in the Mariupol standoff during the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine.[3] During this conflict Ukrainian singers Zlata Ognevich and Anastasia Prikhodko raised money for the Brigade.[8]
Awards
- March 1, 1943 received the honorable designation "Guards"
- January 1944 received Order of the Red Banner award for clearing the city of Kirovohrad
- September 20, 1943 received the honorable name "Krasnohradska"
Famous people of the Division
- Lieutenant Volodymyr Mykheiev - First person in the division to receive Hero of Soviet Union award
- Oles' Honchar, Oleksandr - Ukrainian writer
Divisional Order of Battle
1988-1991
Late Soviet Period Structure[9][10][5]
- 222nd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment - Bila Tserkva
- 224th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment - Bila Tserkva
- 229th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment - Bila Tserkva
- 292nd Guards Tank Regiment - Honcharivske
- 155th Guards Artillery Regiment - Smila
- 1129th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment - Bila Tserkva
- 1345th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion - Bila Tserkva
- 117th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion - Bila Tserkva
- 538th Separate Communications Battalion - Bila Tserkva
- 23rd Separatw Chemical Defence Battalion - Bila Tserkva
- 220th Separate Engineer Battalion - Bila Tserkva
- 280th Separate Maintenance Battalion
- 892nd Combat Service Support Battalion
1992 - 2002
Command and Staff of the 72nd Mechanized Infantry Division
224th Separate Mechanized Infantry Regiment
229th Separate Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Separate Tank Battalion
155th Separate Self-Repelled Artillery Regiment
1129th Separate Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
1345th Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion
220th Separate Engineer Battalion
538th Separate Signal Battalion
117th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion
23rd Separate Chemical Battalion
892nd Separate Logistics Battalion
280th Separate Repair and Recovery Battalion
149th Separate Medical Battalion
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Brigade Order of Battle 2002-present
Past commanders
- Colonel Fedir Mykytovich Zhabrov June 1942
- Lieutenant Colonel Anatoliy Ivanovych Kolobutin June 1942 - October 1942
- Major General Anatoliy Ivanovych Losiev October 1942 - Spring 1945
- Major General Sergiy Bezlishchenko
- Lieutenant General Sergiy Ostrovskiy
References
- ^ Урядовий портал :: Президент України перебуває у 72-й окремій Гвардійській механізованій бригаді
- ^ a b Template:Uk icon Training of Armored and Mechanized battalions
- ^ a b Template:Uk icon ATO organization criticizes the Donbas, Ukrayinska Pravda (12 May 2014)
- ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
- ^ a b Holm, Michael. "72nd Guards Motorised Rifle Division". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
- ^ Edict of the President of Ukraine No. 768/99
- ^ http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/925/98
- ^ Template:Uk icon Zlata Ognevich first talked about becoming a MP, TSN (17 September 2014)
- ^ Ракетный комплекс 9К72: Краснознаменный Киевский военный округ (штаб - Киев)
- ^ А.Г.Ленского и М.М.Цыбина „Советские сухопутные войска в последний год существования СССР” (Санкт-Петербург, 2001)
- ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
External links
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