18th Sloviansk Brigade (Ukraine)

The 18th Separate Mixed Brigade "Sloviansk" is a brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine tasked with law enforcement and protection of Ukrainian territorial integrity. It was established in 1992 as the 13th Regiment on the basis of the 26th battalion of the Internal Troops of the Soviet Union. It is currently headquartered in Sloviansk but was formerly located in Luhansk before it's capture by separatist forces.

18th Separate Sloviansk Brigade
18-а окрема Слов'янська бригада (Ukrainian)
Brigade Insignia
Founded1992 (1992)
Country Ukraine
Allegiance Ministry of Internal Affairs
Branch National Guard of Ukraine
TypeBrigade
RoleExtraction, logistical and combat support, maintainence of the public law and order, protection of the Ukrainian territorial integrity
Part of National Guard of Ukraine
Garrison/HQSloviansk
Nickname(s)Poltavska
EngagementsRusso-Ukrainian war
DecorationsFor Courage and Bravery
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Kutsiy Gennadiy Hryhorovych
Insignia
Former Insignia

History

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On 2 January 1992, the 13th Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine was established on the basis of the 26th battalion of the Internal Troops of the Soviet Union.[1]

In 1995, the 13th regiment was subordinated to the Internal Troops of Ukraine, becoming the 15th Special Motorized Regiment.

It was then transferred to the National Guard of Ukraine in 2014.

It participated and saw combat on multiple occasions during the War in Donbass. On 28 May 2014, the "Zorya" battalion of the Luhansk People's Republic attacked the Voroshilovgrad Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators which was defended by the 18th Brigade and demanded surrender but were denied and the base was attacked by separatists using small arms and artillery killing a soldier of the brigade (Shelemin Dmytro Mykhailovych).[2][3][4] On 29 May 2014, the regiment's headquarters in Luhansk was captured by separatists[5] and the regiment was forced to temporarily relocate to a garrison in Kharkiv.[1] In December 2014, it became the 18th Separate Brigade after incorporation of units whose headquarters were captured by separatists in Donetsk Oblast and the brigade was transferred to Sloviansk.[6]

On 15 September 2015, a soldier of the brigade (Oleh Mykolayovych Panchenko) was killed under undisclosed circumstances.[7]

In 2016, a designated battalion was established in the Brigade tasked specifically with the protection of important Military facilities including the brigade's headquarters.[8] On 9 September 2016, the Donbas Battalion became a part of the brigade.[9]

On 1 November 2017, a reconnaissance group under the leadership of Major Serhii Syrotenko performed a combat mission in the area of Marinka, but a soldier of the brigade (Stanislav Viktorovych Kurbatov) was killed as a result of a mine explosion.[10]

On 18 August 2019, a soldier of the brigade (Taran Bohdan Leonidovych) was killed as a result of explosion in a military facility guarded by the brigade's personnel in Rubezhnoye.[11] On 23 August 2019, the brigade was awarded the honorary name "Sloviansk" and was presented with a presidential ribbon.[12][13][14]

The brigade has seen heavy combat during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The brigade has taken part in the Battle of Popasna and Stepne in Luhansk Oblast, defense of Oskil reservoir in Donetsk Oblast, Battle of Studenok, Battle of Kamainka, Velika Komyshuvakha, Dovgenke of the Kharkiv Oblast, operational and preventive measures in Druzhkivka. It took part in the defense of Korovii Yar, Yatskivka, Rubizhne, Novodruzhesk, Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, Sosnove, Dolyna, Bogorodichne, Oleksandrivka, Sviatohirsk, Tetanivka, It took part in the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive taking part in the Battle of Volokhiv Yar and Battle of Kupiansk, as well as the liberation of Dibrova and Ozerne in Donetsk Oblast. It also took part in the Battle of Horlivka, and was involved in the battles for Terny and the Battle of Kreminna.[15][16][17][18] A soldier of the brigade (Bohdan Olegovich Ishchuk) was killed whilst operating in Novodruzhesk on 31 March 2022.[19][20][21] On 6 April 2022, while taking part in the Battle of Popasna, a soldier of the brigade (Ruslan Viktorovych Usyk) was killed in action.[22] On 12 April 2022, a soldier of the brigade (Sezyk Yakiv Ivanovych) was killed in the Battle of Rubizhne.[23] On 2 September 2022, the brigade was awarded the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery".[24][25] On 16 September 2022, during the Battle of Izium, a soldier of the brigade (Ivan Pidhirny) was severely wounded, went into coma and died two months later.[26] On 31 March 2022, a soldier of the brigade (Bohdan Ishchuk) was killed in Novodruzhesk as a result of artillery shelling.[27]

Structure

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  • 1st Rifle Battalion
  • 2nd Rifle Battalion
  • 3rd Rifle Battalion
  •   Donbas Battalion
  • Guardian Battalion
  • ATGM Company
  • Reserve Rifle Company
  • Combat and Logistical Support Company
  • Automobile Company
  • Howitzer Artillery Battery
  • Special Purpose Reconnaissance Platoon
  • Military band
  • Medical Center

Commanders

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  • Colonel Hryhoryan Ihor Aramovich
  • Colonel Zhuk Vasyl Vasyliovych
  • Colonel Bozhko Serhii Serhiyovych
  • Colonel Kutsiy Gennadiy Hryhorovych

References

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  1. ^ a b "Військова частина 3035 відзначила 50-річний ювілей | НГУ". ngu.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  2. ^ Указ Президента України від 20 червня 2014 № 543/2014 Про відзначення державними нагородами України Archived 12 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Шелємін Дмитро Михайлович Archived 23 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Шелємін Дмитро Михайлович
  5. ^ "У Луганську бойовики захопили будівлі Нацгвардії, прикриваючись мирними жителями". Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  6. ^ "МВС | «Підрозділи НГУ — запорука стабільності у неспокійному Луганському регіоні», — Арсен Аваков (ФОТО, ВІДЕО)". mvs.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  7. ^ "Панченко Олег Миколайович". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Біла книга-2016: Національна гвардія України". issuu.com. National Guard of Ukraine. 2017-06-26. p. 114. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Добровольці, які стали гвардійцями | НГУ". ngu.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  10. ^ Курбатов Станіслав Вікторович Archived 25 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "На Дніпропетровщині попрощалися із бійцем ЗСУ". Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Зеленський присвоїв почесні найменування восьми бойовим військовим частинам". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Про присвоєння почесних найменувань військовим частинам Збройних Сил України та уточнення деяких найменувань". 22 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Військовим частинам присвоєні почесні найменування". ukrmilitary.com/. Ukrainian Military Pages. 2019-08-23. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  15. ^ Яку зброю від Заходу використали ЗСУ для наступу на Харківщині
  16. ^ Захисники. Денис Нохрін — майор Нацгвардії України зі Слов'янська
  17. ^ #Вірю_в_ЗСУ: Нацгвардієць Денис Нохрін отримав відзнаку Президента за заслуги на передовій та організацію оборони під час боїв за Сєвєродонецьк
  18. ^ Вдесятьох проти пів сотні окупантів — так воює сталева піхота. Інтерв’ю заступника командира Слов’янського полку НГУ
  19. ^ "20-річний Богдан Іщук загинув 31 березня 2022 року в районі міста Новодружеськ Луганської області під час артилерійського обстрілу". Меморіал жертв війни (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  20. ^ "«Наш син став прикладом для мене», — каже батько загиблого козятинчанина Богдана Іщука - 20 хвилин". vn.20minut.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  21. ^ "Втрата: на війні загинув молодий Герой з Козятина Богдан Іщук - kazatin.com". kazatin.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  22. ^ Ladika, Alexei (2022-03-27). ""Він сказав: "Пока, мала", сів у "Козака" і поїхав на позицію": у боях за Попасну загинув Руслан "Злий"". kramatorskpost.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  23. ^ "Знову важка втрата: на Прилуччині прощатимуться із Яковом Сезиком". priluki.city (in Ukrainian). 2022-04-15. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  24. ^ "Про відзначення почесною відзнакою "За мужність та відвагу"". 2 September 2022.
  25. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №623/2022 Про відзначення почесною відзнакою "За мужність та відвагу"".
  26. ^ https://www.victims.memorial/people/ivan-pidhirnyi
  27. ^ "ІЩУК Богдан Олегович".