25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine)

History

Between 25 June and 11 August 1969, the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment (Base #11389 [Military Unit No.11389?]) of the 98th Guards Airborne Division of the Soviet Airborne Forces was located in Bolhrad, Odesa Oblast, now in modern Ukraine.

After the dissolution of the USSR, the 98th Guards Airborne Division was split between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. In the spring of 1993, the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment was relocated to Ivanovo, Russia, together with the regiment's war flag, the Order of Kutuzov, and 55% of its supplies.

Current unit

The Ukrainian airmobile brigade was formed in Bolhrad in May 1993, following an order by the Ukrainian Minister of Defence. It was created from the elements of the Soviet 217th Guards Airborne Regiment. On 1 December 1993, the brigade was established as one of the units of the 1st Airmobile Division. From October 1995 until December 1999, 800 paratroopers from the brigade served as part of the 240th Special Battalion in the countries of former Yugoslavia, later serving as peacekeepers in Kosovo.

Between May and June 2002, the brigade was relocated to Hvardiyske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. It was given the honorable designation "Dnipropetrovsk" for their battle achievements and high level of professionalism. On 16 July 2002, it was awarded its new war flag by the then Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma. The brigade was transferred from the 1st Airmobile Division to the 6th Army Corps on 8 November 2002.

During the 30th Independence Day of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky renamed the unit the 25th Airborne Brigade "Sicheslav".

Combat operations

Russian annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas

On 13 June 2014, an IL-76 transport plane was shot down near Luhansk, Ukraine, killing 40 25th Airborne Brigade troops. According to a statement released by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, "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."

A company of the brigade was deployed to Crimea during its annexation by Russia in 2014. It became one of the few, if not the only, Ukrainian units to leave Crimea as a unit, still bearing their arms.

Two of the brigade's BMD-2s were captured by rebels during the war in Donbas. Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov announced his intention to disband the brigade, a decision that was later reversed. Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the brigade has taken an active role in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

The brigade participated in the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 15 March 2022, a video was released showing a Russian tank being destroyed by the brigade. On 18 March 2022, the brigade released more photographs of destroyed Russian T-72s.

The 25th Brigade participated in the 2022 counteroffensive in the Kharkiv Oblast. Units of the brigade received orders to advance up to 40 mi into Russian-held territory at high speed.

Elements of the brigade began advancing at 3:30 a.m. on 6 September, advancing 11 mi and reaching . Units of the 25th continued moving southeast, towards the city of Izium, for several days with little resistance. The initial battle plans called for these units to halt their advance outside of Izium, but due to an unexpected Russian withdrawal, they took the city on 10 September.

After taking Izium, units of the 25th Brigade were ordered to capture the city of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast. Part of the brigade's advance passed through the village of Korovii Yar, After Lyman, elements of the brigade crossed into the Luhansk Oblast. As of November 2022, it was reported that the 25th Brigade was still taking part in combat in the Luhansk Oblast.{{cite web| url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/girska-pihota-likviduvala-try-desyatky-rosiyan/| title=Гірська піхота ліквідувала три десятки росіян| language=uk| website=Militarnyi| date=6 November 2022| access-date=4 May 2025| first=Тарас| last=Сафронов}}

On 16 October 2023, Ukrainian Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the 25th Airborne Brigade had shot down a Mi-8. In March 2024, Syrskyi publicly praised the 25th Brigade for its efforts in repelling Russian attacks on the villages of Berdychi and Orlivka.

The Brigade has spent most time in the defense of the Pokrovsk direction. They were equipped with a variety of vehicles including German-made Leopard 1A5 tanks, Marder Infantry fighting vehicels, Giatsint-S 152mm self-propelled gun, and vehicles provided by private fundraisers. In September of 2024 25th Airborne Brigade would utilize the Ukrainian built Ratel S UAV to clear tunnels in near Novohrodivka. In December of 2024 Russian assaults in the Pokrovsk direction increased dramatically. On December 29th, alone, 48 attacks were launched in a single day with thirty being repelled the same day. The 25th Brigade received special recognition for their role in Defending against the assault. President Volodymyr Zelensky commended the brigade for helping to contribute to Russia's record losses in the offensive.

In February of 2025 the 25th Airborne Brigade liberated the village of Kotlyne near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast. The strategically important village fell under Russian control in January. During the engagement, the 25th Brigade also captured nine Russian soldiers by having them surrender to a UAV drone equipped with a loud speaker. According to Brigade officials paratroopers helped to clear the village.

Structure

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:

• 25th Airborne Brigade, Zarichne
  • [[File:I_25air_hq.png|25px]] Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • [[File:I_25air_1bat.png|25px]] 1st Airborne Battalion
  • [[File:I_25air_2bat.png|25px]] 2nd Airborne Battalion
  • [[File:I 25air 3bat.png|25px]] 3rd Airborne Battalion
  • Sniper Platoon
  • Aerial Reconnaissance Unit "Alastor"
  • [[File:I 25air antiaircraft.png|25px]] Artillery Group
    • Self-Propelled Artillery Division (2S9 Nona)
    • Howitzer Artillery Division (D-30)
    • Rocket Artillery Division (BM-21 Grad)
    • Anti-Tank Guided Missile Battery (9K111 Fagot)
  • [[File:25BrAG.png|25px]] Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Division
  • [[File:I 25air communications.png|25px]] Communication Company
  • [[File:I 25air recon.png|25px]] Reconnaissance Landing Company
  • [[File:I 25air tankbattalion.png|25px]] Tank Company (Air Transportable) (T-80BV)
  • [[File:I 25air sapper.png|25px]] Engineer and Sapper Company
  • [[File:I 25air cbrn.png|25px]] Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
  • [[File:I 25air logistic.png|25px]] Logistics Company
  • [[File:I 25air repair.png|25px]] Maintenance Company
  • Landing Support Company
  • [[File:I 25air support.png|25px]] Material Support Company
  • [[File:I 25air medic.png|25px]] Medical Company
  • Proving Grounds
  • Brigade Band

Past commanders

• Colonel Ivan Volodymyrovych Aleshchenko 1993 - 1996
• Colonel Oleksandr Mykolaiovych Zashchytnikov 1996 - 1998
• Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy Anatoliovych Garbus 1998 - 1999
• Colonel Andriy Ivanovych Maksymenko 1999 - 2001
• Colonel Ihor Vasyliovych Luniov 2001 - 2003
• Colonel Ihor Yaroslavovych Stelmah 2003 - 2004
• Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Vasyliovych Kolchik 2004 - 2006
• Colonel Oleh Volodymyrovych Svystak 2006 - 2007
• Colonel Yuriy Ivanovych Sodol' 2007–2015
• Colonel 2021-2022 in Donetsk, 17 March 2022.

Honours

On 23 August 2021, in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 414/2021, the brigade was assigned the honorary name "Sycheslavska". The Decree of the President of Ukraine of 16 July 2002 No. 654 "On assigning the honorary name "Dnipropetrovsk" to 25 Airborne Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" retired its previous name from official use. On 14 October 2021, during Zelenskiy's visit to Zaporizhzhia on the island of Khortytsia,, brigade commander Colonel Yevhen Kurash was presented with the brigade's new Regimental Colour. On June 28, 2022, the brigade was awarded the honorary citation "For Courage and Bravery".

References

References

1. From 8 of November 2002 — 25th Airborne Brigade
2. "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО".
3. "Боевая машина десантная БМД-1".
4. "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО".
5. "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО".
6. "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО".
7. "Міністерство оборони України - Новини".
8. "25 Отдельная Днепропетровская Воздушно-десантная бригада ВС Украины.".
9. "С момента формирования личный состав 25 овдбр принимал участие в многочисленных учениях, в том числе и международного масштаба, выполнял различные задачи командования".
10. {{in lang. uk [https://www.istpravda.com.ua/short/2021/08/24/160060/ The president gave military units honorary titles in honor of historical figures] {{Webarchive. link. (2022-08-03 , [[Ukrayinska Pravda). Historisna Pravda]] (24 August 2021)
11. (14 June 2014). "49 die as pro-Russia rebels down Ukraine army plane". [[Los Angeles Times]].
12. [[Ukrainska Pravda]]. (March 25, 2014). link
13. [http://lostarmour.info/spoils/ List of captured armored vehicles in the Ukrainian civil war.] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-09-03 Retrieved 13 June 2015.)
14. Mstyslav Chernov. Peter Leonard. [http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2015-06-04-EU-Ukraine/id-0ffad5069a2146ecbab6f44e67609175 "Eastern Ukraine tense after outbreak of fighting"] {{webarchive. link. (2015-06-05 . Associated Press, 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015)
15. (15 March 2022). "#Ukraine: The complete destruction of a Russian T-72 variant by the 25th Airborne Brigade of Ukraine. It is not cl…".
16. 25 окрема повітрянодесантна Січеславська бригада. (March 18, 2022). "Трохи гарних новин у стрічку!".
17. (29 December 2022). "Inside the Ukrainian counteroffensive that shocked Putin and reshaped the war".
18. "Occupiers say they have left Izium and other settlements, while Ukrainian troops show a video: We are in Izium".
19. (2022-09-16). "'Burns Well, Good Job' – Ukraine Downs Yet Another Russian Helicopter".
20. Fornusek, Martin. (2024-03-02). "Syrskyi dissatisfied with some brigade commanders, hints at personnel changes".
21. "About brigade - 25th AB".
22. Axe, David. "Ukraine’s 25th Airborne Brigade Is Like A German Tank Brigade From '85".
23. "Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed the Giatsint-S 152mm self-propelled gun in the Pokrovsk sector".
24. (2024-06-05). ""Come Back Alive" and OKKO hand over vehicles and equipment worth UAH 100 million to Airborne Brigades - savelife.in.ua".
25. (2024-09-26). "Ukrainian Armed Forces blow up occupants in Pokrovsk sector using Ukrainian Ratel S drone {{!}} УНН".
26. "Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 28".
27. Struck, Julia. (December 11, 2024). "Zelensky: November-December Sees Record Russian Losses in Combat". Kyiv Post.
28. (2025-02-26). "Ukrainian forces liberate Kotlyne village near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast".
29. Korshak, Stefan. "Ukrainian Paratroopers Capture Village, Kyiv Launches Local Counterattacks".
30. "Ukrainian troops capture Russian soldiers using drone with loudspeaker".
31. Десантно-штурмові війська ЗС України. (2025-02-25). "Покровський напрямок: Січеславські десантники взяли під контроль населений пункт Котлине".
32. (2023-09-20). "25 ОВДБр (В0440, 25-я отдельная Сечеславская воздушно-десантная бригада)".
33. "25 ОПДБр - Передові захисники України".
34. "Указ Президента України № 414/2021 «Про присвоєння почесного найменування 25 окремій повітрянодесантній Дніпропетровській бригаді Десантно-штурмових військ Збройних Сил України»".
35. [https://www.061.ua/news/3230195/v-zaporoze-prezident-zelenskij-prinal-prisagu-liceistov-i-prisvoil-pocetnye-naimenovania-dla-voinskih-castej-fotoreportaz У Запоріжжі президент України Володимир Зеленський надав почесні найменування та бойові прапори військовим частинам] {{Webarchive. link. (14 жовтня 2021 // '''', 2021-10-14 {{in lang). ru'''
36. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 28 червня 2022 year № 450/2022 [https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/4502022-43053 «Про відзначення почесною відзнакою «За мужність та відвагу»»] {{Webarchive. link. (2022-06-29 {{in lang). uk