72nd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

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72nd Mechanized Brigade
(2016–present)

72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade
(2002–2016)

72nd Guards Mechanized Division
(1992–2002)

72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division
(1957–1992)

72nd Guards Rifle Division
(1943–1957)

29th Rifle Division (2nd Formation)
(1941–1943)
72nd Mechanized Brigade Sleeve Patch
ActiveDecember 5, 1941[1] – Present
CountryUkraine
BranchUkrainian Army
TypeBrigade
RoleMechanized
Size~3,000
Part ofOperational Command North
Garrison/HQBila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast
Nickname(s)The Black Brigade
Motto(s)Ukraine or death! (Ukrainian: Україна або смерть!)
March"Brave Lads, Brave Army" (Ukrainian: Хоробрі хлопці, відважне військо!)
EquipmentT-64[2]
EngagementsWorld War II

Russo-Ukrainian War

DecorationsOrder of the Red Banner Order of the Red Banner (removed)
Battle honours
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Ivan Vinnik

The 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians 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.

Since 2014, the brigade has participated in the Ukrainian-Russian war in Donbas as part of the Anti-Terrorist Operation. In the summer of 2014, units of the brigade fought hard on the Russian-Ukrainian border, in the Azov region, and in the winter of 2016 - near Avdiivka in the industrial zone.

In August 2017, the brigade received an honorary title after the military formation of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Black Zaporozhian Cavalry Regiment.

The brigade is extensively involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine participating in battles in the Kyiv Oblast and in the Donbas.

History

World War II

The 29th Rifle Division (2nd formation) was redesignated the 72nd Guards Rifle Division by Directorate of the General Staff order No.104 on 1 March 1943. The units of the division were renumbered as follows:[5]

29th Rifle Division 72nd Guards Rifle Division
106th Rifle Regiment 222nd Guards Rifle Regiment
128th Rifle Regiment 224th Guards Rifle Regiment
77th Artillery Regiment 155th Guards Artillery Regiment

On March 3, 1943, 72nd Guards Rifle Division was involved in battles for liberation of Belgorod. Soon they were near Kharkiv and Krasnohrad. On 19 September, the division was awarded the title Krasnohrad. On 8 January 1944, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.[5]

The division fought in the Budapest Offensive from late October 1944. On 15 December, units of the division reinforced Cavalry Mechanized Group Pliev during the attack on Szécsény.[6] On 9 January, the division was attached to the 24th Guards Rifle Corps. The division captured the area around Bart. The division's attack was stopped by the 1st Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 317 a kilometer north of the village.[7]

Cold War

In May 1946,[8] the division became the 7th Guards Rifle Brigade, part of the 33rd Guards Rifle Corps. In October 1953, it became a division again.[9] The 72nd Guards Rifle Division became a motor rifle division stationed in the Kyiv Military District at Bila Tserkva on 4 June 1957. It was part of the 1st Guards Army (Soviet Union). 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 with 133 T-64 main battle tanks. During the Cold War, the division was maintained at 25% strength, with one full strength regiment.[10]

Ukraine

After the fall of the Soviet Union it was transferred to Ukraine. In 1992, Colonel Volodymyr Lytvyntsev – Commander 72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Kyiv Military District was given the rank of Major General.[11]

On August 23, 1995, Colonel Nikolai Nikolaevich Tsytsyursky, Commander 72nd Mechanized Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps of the Odessa Military District, was given the rank of Major-General.[12] In accordance with a decree of August 23, 1998, division commander Colonel Grigoriy Pedchenko was promoted to major-general.[13] On June 29, 1999, the 72nd Guards Mechanized Division of the Operational Command North of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was given the honorary title of "Kyiv".[14]

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.[15] The brigade defended Sector D near Chernopartyzhansk, Sverdlovsk and Diakove alongside the 51st Mechanized Brigade from July 2014. Separatist and Russian attacks resulted in the brigade being surrounded and cut off from supply by early August. The brigade's 1st Battalion and elements of the 51st Brigade, along with a group of border guards (about 400 total), destroyed their weapons and crossed into Russia. They were interned and returned to Ukrainian territory. Major Mykhailo Drapatyi's 2nd Battalion of the brigade near Chernopartyzhansk broke out of the encirclement, covered by the 30th Mechanized and 95th Airmobile Brigades from the south. Two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion were killed in the breakout.[16] The convoy in which 195 soldiers of the brigade returned to Ukrainian territory after crossing into Russia on 4 August 2014 was fired on by separatists.[17]

Former shoulder sleeve insignia of the 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade

On 18 November 2015 the brigade's honorific "Red Banner" was removed as part of an Armed Forces-wide removal of Soviet awards and honorifics.[18] On 22 August 2016, its Guards title was removed.[19] Its honorifics "Krasnohrad–Kyiv" were removed and replaced with the honorific Black Zaporozhian in honor of the Ukrainian People's Army Black Zaporizhian Cavalry Regiment on 23 August 2017.[20]

Russian Invasion of Ukraine

On the morning of 24 February 2022, the Russian Armed Forces launched its special military operation into Ukraine. The 72nd Mechanized Brigade was one of few maneuver formations defending Ukraine's capitol, Kyiv, to include a number of special operations, national guard, and hastily formed Territorial Defense Forces which all told, formed an estimated 20,000 infantry force. The Russian 35th, 36th, and 41st Combined Arms armies barreled down roads from Belarus and southern Russian towards Kyiv. The brigade met their formations armed with western supplied weaponry such as FGM-148 Javelin and NLAW destroying tanks from as far as a mile away. The brigade's primary role, however, was reconnaissance of the Russian formations and to provide targeting data to the two artillery brigades including the 44th Artillery for strikes. Ukraine's artillery was used to great effect and reduced cohesion among Russian battalions.[21]

Ukraine's top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, recognized the danger Russia's airhead at Hostomel posed to Ukraine's capitol and ordered the brigade to organize a counterattack. With the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade, and support from the Ukrainian Air Force,[22] launched their attack on the Russian forces who lacked armour support but had close air support in the form of at least two Su-25's. As the operation progressed, more Ukrainian units from the Georgian Legion and Air Assault Forces joined the fight, denying Russia the ability to fly in troops via Il-76.[23] Ukrainian units surrounded the airport by the evening and forced the remaining Russian troops into nearby forests.[24] Later, the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade posted on their Facebook an image of Ukrainian soldiers celebrating while holding a bullet-riddled flag inside Hostomel Airport.[22]

The brigade continued to apply pressure to Russian vanguard formations destroying a number of tanks and IFV's fixing the beleaguered units in place while serving as forward observers for continued artillery strikes. The majority of losses came when the Russian units were concentrated by artillery fire, stalling their advance for several days and leading to the infamous 40-mile convoy north of Kyiv.[21]

Now stalled, Ukrainian units across the front counterattacked, squeezing the Russian units into narrow corridors to make their situation untenable. In Brovary, the brigade ambushed a Russian armoured column from the 90th Guards Tank Division hitting the first and last vehicle while trapping the middle vehicles. The Ukrainians were unable to cut off the Russian's route of escape causing many of their forces to flee into nearby forests. Despite their retreat, heavy fighting continued in the surrounding area for several days.[25] Russian forces were reported to have shot civilians suspected in aiding the Ukrainian forces during the fighting.[26] On 29 March, the Russian Ministry of Defence ordered its forces in the region to retreat and were later redeployed for the fighting in the east.[27] On 1 April, the city's mayor claimed Ukrainian forces pushed the Russian forces out of Brovary.[28]

Throughout summer, the brigade participated in the Donbas offensive, namely the Bakhmut area fighting in the decisive Battle of Bakhmut. Heavy fighting in the area resulted in substantial casualties to the brigade's professional soldiers causing many of their positions to be replaced by conscripts. The brigade's reconnaissance company was reduced from 128 men to 82 due to casualties.[29]

Sometime in August, the brigade was redeployed to Pavlivka. The brigade assessed that 600 Russian troops and 30 armored vehicles entered their area of operation culminating in a battle in late October.[29] On November 3, the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade committed its forces to the battle. The brigade's commander released a video intended for the governor of the Primorsky Oblast, the unit's home, asking for help as the brigade suffered 300 casualties.[30] Losses were heavy on both sides and the brigade eventually withdrew.[29]

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"
  • August 23, 2017, received the honorary title "Chornykh Zaporozhtsiv"

Famous people of the division

Divisional order of battle

1988–1991

Late Soviet Period Structure[10][31][32]

  • 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 Separate 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

Current structure

As of 2017 the brigade's structure is as follows:

  • 72nd Mechanized Brigade, Bila Tserkva
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Mechanized Battalion
    • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
    • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
    • Tank Battalion
    • 12th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Kyiv"
    • Brigade Artillery Regiment
    • Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Battalion
    • Engineer Battalion
    • Maintenance Battalion
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Reconnaissance Company
    • Sniper Company
    • Electronic Warfare Company
    • Signal Company
    • Radar Company
    • CBRN-defense Company
    • Medical Company
    • Brigade Band

Traditions

Own symbolism appeared in the division in the second half of the 1990s. In the fall of 1996, the head of the group of socio-psychological department of the 229th Mechanized Regiment of the 72nd Mechanized Division Major V. Pektny developed a system of shrug management and parts of this connection. The emblems of the parts were a single -shaped shield and sizes, divided by horizontal into two halves. In the upper half of the shield, the symbolism of the division was contained: a bow with three arrows from the city coat of arms of the White Church against the background of the molding wall and the rising sun. The lower half of the shield was intended for the symbolism of a particular regiment or a separate battalion.[33]

The brigade has a march: "Brave guys, a brave army!".[34][35]

Until 2017, she had the honorary name of Krasnograd-Kyiv.[36]

On August 23, 2017, in order to restore the historical traditions of the National Army on the names of military units, given the exemplary completion of the tasks, high rates in combat training and on the occasion of the 26th anniversary.[37] On August 24, 2017, at the Independence Day parade of Ukraine, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko presented the brigade to the brigade.[38]

On March 7, 2019, the Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko approved the new symbolism of the brigade.[39][40][41] The sketch mark consists of two elements: a wicked emblem and the motto. The emblem contains a British heraldic shield of red, the color of the shield symbolizes belonging to the point of permanent dislocation - the White Church, the color of which is also red. At the heart of the shield is an image of a black triangle, which combines the corners of the shield, which symbolizes the black headdress - the snack of the fighter of the equestrian regiment of the Black Cossacks. In the center of the shield is the image of the Adam's head, which is located on the back of the banners of the Black Cossacks. The deviation tape is a curved ribbon with the motto of the horse regiment of the Black Cossacks "Ukraine or Death" in the middle.[42]

In December 2019, the brigade received a personal honorary flag (Korogwa) based on the historical symbolism of the Horse Regiment of Black Cossacks.[43]

On May 6, 2022, the brigade was awarded the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery".[44]

Commanders

Notes

  1. ^ Президент України перебуває у 72-й окремій Гвардійській механізованій бригаді [President of Ukraine visits 72nd Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade] (in Ukrainian). Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 6 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. ^ Під час польового виходу підрозділів 72-ї окремої механізованої бригади 8-го армійського корпусу Сухопутних військ ЗС України проводитиметься тренування екіпажів танків Т-64 та відпрацьовуватимуться питання із застосування радіозв’язку [72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade begins radio and T-64 tank training] (in Ukrainian). Press Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b (in Ukrainian) ATO organization criticizes the Donbas, Ukrayinska Pravda (12 May 2014)
  4. ^ "Ukrainian military defeat tank regiment of Russian troops, eliminate commander Zakharov in Brovarsky district - Defense Intelligence".
  5. ^ a b c d e 72-я Краснознаменная Красноградская гвардейская стрелковая дивизия [72nd Guards Red Banner Krasnograd Rifle Division]. rkka.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  6. ^ Számvéber 2013, p. 22.
  7. ^ Számvéber 2013, p. 158.
  8. ^ a b "Pyotr Berestov". Герои страны ("Heroes of the Country") (in Russian).
  9. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 148
  10. ^ a b Holm, Michael. "72nd Guards Motorised Rifle Division". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  11. ^ Edict of the President of Ukraine No. 90/92
  12. ^ "Edict of the President of Ukraine No. 792/95".
  13. ^ "Про присвоєння військових звань". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України.
  14. ^ "Edict of the President of Ukraine No. 768/99".
  15. ^ (in Ukrainian) Zlata Ognevich first talked about becoming a MP, TSN (17 September 2014)
  16. ^ Butusov, Yurii (11 August 2015). "EVENTS OF AUG. 6–7, 2014. 72ND MECHANIZED BRIGADE COMMANDER MYKHAILO DRAPATYI HEADED BREAKTHROUGH OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS FROM ENCIRCLEMENT NEAR CHERVONOPARTYZANSK". Censor.net. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Terrorists Fired at the Convoy of 72nd Brigade Returning from Russia. No Casualties". Censor.net. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  18. ^ УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №646/2015 [Ukaz President of Ukraine No. 646/2015] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  19. ^ УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №344/2016 [Ukaz of the President of Ukraine No. 344/2016] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  20. ^ Білоцерківська 72-а бригада отримала назву Чорних Запорожців [Bila Tserkva's 72nd Brigade named for Black Zaporizhians]. mykyivregion (in Ukrainian). 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  21. ^ a b Axe, David. "Ukraine's Artillery Did The Most Killing Around Kyiv, Ultimately Saving The City From Russian Occupation". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  22. ^ a b McGregor. "Russian Airborne Disaster at Hostomel Airport | Aberfoyle International Security". Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  23. ^ Marson, James. "Putin Thought Ukraine Would Fall Quickly. An Airport Battle Proved Him Wrong". WSJ. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  24. ^ "Bloody Day In Ukraine Ends With Russian Advances, Setbacks | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  25. ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (2022-03-11). "How a Line of Russian Tanks Became an Inviting Target for Ukrainians". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  26. ^ "How Kyiv's outgunned defenders have kept Russian forces from capturing the capital". Washington Post. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  27. ^ Ali, Idrees; Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees; Stewart, Phil (2022-04-06). "Russia has completed withdrawal from around Kyiv -U.S. defense official". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  28. ^ "Реальный Киев | Новости Украина 🇺🇦". Telegram. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  29. ^ a b c "Trapped in the Trenches in Ukraine". The New Yorker. 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  30. ^ "Russian marine says "deserting" Ukraine front line only way to stay alive". Newsweek. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  31. ^ Киевский военный округ [Kyiv Military District]. rk72.jino-net.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2008-01-08. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  32. ^ Lenskii, A.G.; Tsybin, M.M. (2001). Советские сухопутные войска в последний год существования СССР [The Soviet Army in the Last Year of the USSR] (in Russian). St. Petersburg: B&K. p. 157.
  33. ^ "Зенітники по-білоцерківськи". Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  34. ^ "72 ОМБр ім. Чорних Запорожців". uk-ua.facebook.com.
  35. ^ "Слова з маршу 72-ї бригади". Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  36. ^ "Указ Президента України №344/2016 «Про внесення змін до Указу Президента України від 30 жовтня 2000 року № 1173»". www.president.gov.ua. Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України. 2016-08-22. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  37. ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from 23 серпня 2017 year № 234/2017 «Про присвоєння почесних найменувань військовим частинам Збройних Сил України та уточнення деяких найменувань» (in Ukrainian)
  38. ^ "72-й бригаді присвоєно ім'я Чорних Запорожців, 24-й - ім'я короля Данила". LB.ua. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  39. ^ "Муженко затвердив нові емблеми бойових бригад". Ukrainian Military Pages. 2019-03-09. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  40. ^ "Муженко затвердив нарукавний знак 72-ї бригади". mil.in.ua/. Український мілітарний портал. 2019-03-09. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  41. ^ "Череп для Чорних запорожців. ГШ затвердив емблему 30-ї, 58-ї і 72-ї бригад". novynarnia.com. Новинарня. 9 March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019.
  42. ^ "Про нову символіку 72-ї бригади Чорних Запорожців". Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  43. ^ "Персональний почесний прапор 72-ї бригади ЗС України". Ukrainian Military Pages. 2019-12-12. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  44. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №315/2022 Про відзначення почесною відзнакою "За мужність та відвагу"".
  45. ^ a b Mokrenchuk, Elena (23 April 2016). Командир 72-й бригады: "Армия готова стрелять, но есть и другие эффективные способы ведения войны" [Commander of the 72nd Brigade: "The army is ready to shoot, but there are other effective methods of warfare"]. Donbass (in Russian). Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Заступник Міністра оборони України з питань європейської інтеграції Ігор Долгов зустрівся з керівництвом Волноваського району" [Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine on European Integration Ihor Dolgov met with the leadership of Volnovakha Raion]. Press Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-06. Retrieved 31 August 2016.

References

External links

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