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95th Air Assault Brigade (Ukraine)

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95th Separate Polesian Air Assault Brigade
95-та окрема десантно-штурмова Поліська бригада
Sleeve patch of the Brigade
Active12 December 1992 – present
Country Ukraine
Allegiance Armed Forces of Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
RoleAir assault forces
Part of7th Rapid Response Corps
Garrison/HQZhytomyr, Zhytomyr oblast
Motto(s)Strength, Courage, Honor!
Engagements
Decorations
For Courage and Bravery
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/95BRIGADE
Commanders
Current
commander		Oleh Apostol
Insignia
Former sleeve patch
Flag

The 95th Separate Polesian Air Assault Brigade[a] is a unit of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.[4] The brigade is located in Zhytomyr.[5] It is considered one of the most prestigious and capable units in the Ukrainian military.[6][7][8] The brigade is one of Ukraine's Partnership for Peace units.[9] The brigade received publicity in 2014 for its raid behind separatist lines, inflicting heavy losses on separatist and Russian forces during the war in Donbas.[10]

History

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The 95th Training Center of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces was created in the early 1990s in Zhytomyr (Korbutivka[11] base) from the 242nd Training Tank Regiment.[5] The 242nd Tank Training Regiment had been part of the 117th Guards Tank Training Division.[12] A second base, Bohunia, was also used for the training center. In 1995, the training center was reorganized into the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade. All of the units except the staff and reconnaissance company moved to Bohunia.[5]

The first jumps in the Brigade occurred in 1994. The brigade was also one of the first airmobile units to receive its Battle Flag, on 5 October 1994. Until the spring of 1996 all of the jumps were done from Mi-8 helicopters. By the end of the northern hemisphere summer of 1996 soldiers began jumping from Il-76 transport aircraft. All the jumps were conducted in the region of Smokovka, and in the Brigade's training range, located in the area of the Starokonstantinin road across the Teterev river. Currently, the brigade's drop zone is located near the Singury settlement, 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Zhytomyr.[citation needed]

The brigade originally had four battalions, one of which was later disbanded. Soldiers from the brigade took part in peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, former Yugoslavia, Kosovo, and between 2003 and 2005 in Iraq.[5][13]

In 2000 the brigade was reorganized into an Airmobile Brigade and was subordinated to the 8th Army Corps. Currently, the brigade includes the 13th Separate Airmobile Battalion, which consists of professional soldiers instead of conscripts. The brigade also includes the 2nd Airmobile Battalion which consists of conscripts based in Korbutovka (A-1910). Brigade headquarters and the conscript 1st Airmobile Battalion, specialized, artillery, and logistics units are based in Bohunia (A-0281).[5]

Donbas war (2014-2022)

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In 2014 the 95th Brigade took part in the siege of Sloviansk and the Kramatorsk standoff during the war in Donbas.[1] On 13 May 2014, seven paratroopers from the unit were killed during an ambush by separatists in Kramatorsk.[14][15][16][17]

In August 2014 the brigade conducted a raid behind the separatist lines. The 95th Airmobile Brigade, which had been reinforced with armor assets and attachments, launched a surprise attack on separatist lines, broke through into their rear areas, fought for 450 kilometers, and destroyed or captured numerous Russian tanks and artillery pieces before returning to Ukrainian lines. They operated not as a concentrated brigade but rather split into three company-sized elements on different axes of advance. According to Phillip Karber, it was one of the longest raids in the military history.[10]

The unit was deployed to Donetsk Airport on 21 November 2014 as part of a regular rotation of Ukrainian troops stationed in the area.[18]

On 29 November 2021, the City Council of Zhytomyr sent requests to the Minister of Defence and the President of Ukraine to award the 95th Air Assault Brigade the honorary title («Поліська» in Ukrainian). The mayor of the city, Serhiy Sukhomlyn, explained that the purpose of the renaming was to mark the military unit's combat merits, high training performance, and successes in anti-terrorist and peacemaking operations. He also said that this request came from the soldiers of the brigade.[19][20]

Russia-Ukraine war (2022–present)

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On 28 June 2022, the brigade received the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery (Ukraine)" for its service during the Russo-Ukrainian War.[21]

Kursk operation (2024–25)

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In late July 2024, units of the 95th Air Assault Brigade were redeployed from the Toretsk front in order to take part in the Ukrainian operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast.[22][23]

The brigade entered Kursk Oblast on 10 August, and was given the task of conducting assaults and mop-up operations around Malaya Loknya and Pogrebki [ru], in between the areas of responsibility of Ukraine's 80th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades.[22] Units of the brigade completely encircled Malaya Loknya and gradually cleared the settlement; the operation to capture the village took about two weeks. There were over 100 Russian personnel in the village, according to a 95th Brigade commander.[22] While certain units of the 95th were engaged at Malaya Loknya, its 1st Battalion took control of Pogrebki.[22]

Throughout mid-to-late August 2024, it was reported that units of the brigade were still involved in combat operations at Malaya Loknya,[24] including the battle at the prison in the village.[25]

During mid-September 2024, some units of the 95th Brigade conducted a new breakthrough across the Russian border in the Glushkovo District of Kursk Oblast. The crossing of the border took place near the village of Medvezhe [ru].[26]

Units of the brigade were also responsible for capturing the Kursk Oblast villages of Kamyshevka [ru] and Khitrovka, which they continued to hold into October 2024.[23] As of November 2024, the brigade had not lost any positions in its area of responsibility in Kursk Oblast.[22] The brigade remained at Malaya Loknya into December 2024, where it repelled an attack that reportedly involved North Korean soldiers.[27]

Structure

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As of 2023 the brigade's structure is as follows:[28]

  • 95th Air Assault Brigade, Zhytomyr
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Air Assault Battalion
    • 2nd Air Assault Battalion
    • 13th Separate Amphibious Assault Battalion (Created in 1993 with primarily focus to participate in peacekeeping operations).[29]
    • Artillery Group
    • Tank Company (T-80BV)
    • Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery
    • Reconnaissance Company
    • Engineering and Sapper Company
    • CBRN Protection Company
    • Logistic Company
    • Medical Company
    • Support Battalion
    • Amphibious Support Company
    • Commandant Platoon

Commanders

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[edit]
  • «Saber Junction-2018».
    «Saber Junction-2018».
  • Brigade's soldiers prepare for movement during «Saber Junction-2018».
    Brigade's soldiers prepare for movement during «Saber Junction-2018».
  • Brigade's KRAZ "Spartan" on Independence day parade, 2016.
    Brigade's KRAZ "Spartan" on Independence day parade, 2016.

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b More than 30 killed in Odessa blaze as Ukraine violence spreads, Channel NewsAsia (3 May 2014) Archived 3 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
    (in Ukrainian) The number of dead commandos during Kramatorsk increased to seven – SBU, Ukrayinska Pravda (13 May 2014)
  2. ^ "Ukraine downs Russian chopper with Polish weapons: report". polskieradio.pl. Polskie Radio S.A. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the ceremony dedicated to the Day of the Air Assault Forces". www.president.gov.ua. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  4. ^ "U.S.-Ukraine military relations and the value of interoperability, pg 17" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e 95-я отдельная аэромобильная бригада [95th Separate Airmobile Brigade] (in Russian). Ryazan Airborne School Alumni, Spetsnaz and Airborne Veterans Organization. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  6. ^ "21st Century Maneuver | Marine Corps Association". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  7. ^ "An Inside Look at Ukraine's Top Warriors". 29 July 2014.
  8. ^ ""They aren't called Ukrainian Armed Forces' elite for nothing," – Poroshenko on Ukrainian commandoes. PHOTOS". Censor.NET.
  9. ^ Partnership for Peace Ukrainian Designated Units.
  10. ^ a b "21st Century Maneuver | Marine Corps Association". www.mca-marines.org. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  11. ^ "199 навчальний центр".
  12. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 465.
  13. ^ "Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Official Bulletin" (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Rebel ambush near Kramatorsk kills seven Ukrainian paratroopers; one rebel dead (UPDATED)". www.kyivpost.com. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Ukraine crisis: 'Eight killed' in ambush in east – BBC News". BBC News. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces". Reuters. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Под Краматорском силовики попали в засаду. Есть погибшие". Украинская правда. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  18. ^ ""Киборги" провели ротацию в Донецком аэропорту". Ukrinform.
  19. ^ "Почесне звання "Поліська" – міська рада клопоче про присвоєння 95-ій бригаді нової назви – yes-zhytomyr.com.ua". 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  20. ^ "95-та десантно-штурмова бригада просить присвоїти їй назву "Поліська" – Новини Житомира". 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  21. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №450/2022". 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d e Kyrylenko, Olha (14 November 2024). "Andrii Horets, Deputy Commander of 95th Brigade: The enemy storms the Kursk front every day. No matter what anyone says, they're suffering huge losses, and we aren't". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Ukraine's Kursk operation: commander of 95th Air Assault Brigade describes aircraft and Marder IFV's role". Ukrainska Pravda. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  24. ^ Шорохова, Ангеліна (20 August 2024). "Воїни 95 ОДШБр ведуть вогонь по окупантах в Курській області з БМП "Marder"". Цензор.нет (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  25. ^ Romanenko, Valentyna (23 August 2024). "Russians entrenched in women's prison, resist Ukrainian attacks amid Kursk incursion". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  26. ^ Кліщук, Людимла (23 September 2024). "95 одшбр прорвала ще одну ділянку на кордоні з РФ у Курській області". Новинарня (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  27. ^ Людвик, Екатерина (15 December 2024). "Soldiers of 92nd Assault and 95th Airborne Assault Divisions repelled massive attack by North Korean troops in Kursk region - Butusov". Цензор.нет (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  28. ^ "95-я отдельная десантно-штурмовая бригада". wartears.org (in Ukrainian). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Log in or sign up to view". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Staff meeting of the 8th Army Corps" (in Ukrainian).
  31. ^ "Brigade prepares for 16th anniversary of airmobile troops" (in Ukrainian).
  32. ^ "Комбриг 95-ї бригади Олег Гуть отримав нагороду від Порошенка | Теми". www.1.zt.ua. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  33. ^ "Мужні люди, які щодня виконують важливі завдання для захисту країни". www.golos.com.ua (in Ukrainian). 6 December 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Новим командувачем Десантно-штурмових військ ЗСУ став полковник Максим Миргородський – Новинарня". novynarnia.com (in Ukrainian). 9 August 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  35. ^ Кліщук, Людмила (18 October 2024). "Герой України, комбриг 95-ї ОДШБр Олег Апостол "Формоза": Під час операції в Курській області Сирський чує ініціативи знизу і дозволяє їх реалізувати". Новинарня (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 21 April 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Feskov, V.I.; Golikov, V.I.; Kalashnikov, K.A.; Slugin, S.A. (2013). Вооруженные силы СССР после Второй Мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской [The Armed Forces of the USSR after World War II: From the Red Army to the Soviet: Part 1 Land Forces] (in Russian). Tomsk: Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing. ISBN 9785895035306.

Notes

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  1. ^ Ukrainian: 95-та окрема десантно-штурмова Поліська бригада (95 ОДШБр);[3] MUN A0281
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