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10th Mountain Assault Brigade

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10th Mountain Assault Brigade
10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
ActiveOctober 1, 2015 – present
Country Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
TypeMechanized Infantry
Part ofOperational Command West
Garrison/HQKolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Motto(s)With a shield or on a shield!
EngagementsRusso-Ukrainian War

The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss" (Ukrainian: 10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада "Едельвейс") is a specialized unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, specifically trained for mountain warfare operations.[2] Based in Kolomyia and part of Operational Command West, the brigade has a history of defending its country in various conflicts, including the war in Donbas in 2016 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[3] During these conflicts, the brigade defended Marinka, Popasna, Mariupol and Bakhmut.[4]

History

The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade was formed on 1 October 2015, in Kolomyia, as part of the Operational Command West. Its formation was driven by the need to protect Northern Bukovina from potential Romanian territorial claims[failed verification] and to prepare for any future conflict with Russia.[5] The brigade was composed of experienced soldiers and volunteers, including the 24th Separate Assault Battalion and the former Aidar Battalion.[6] Its first commander, Colonel Vasyl Zubanych, was a Hero of Ukraine and a former battalion commander in the 128th Mechanized Brigade.[7] To attract new recruits, the brigade offered a 25% pay increase to volunteers who joined the brigade on a contract basis.[8] The first group of recruits consisted of 1,000 volunteers.[9] In January 2016, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that the brigade was ready to begin its combat training.[10] The brigade was stationed at Bila Tserkva and later relocated to Kolomyia once new barracks were completed.[8] In February 2016, the Ukrainian Ground Forces decided to form a new Bukovina mountain battalion in Chernivtsi, and the 8th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion and the 46th Separate Special-Purpose Battalion "Donbas-Ukraine" were added to the brigade's roster.[11] The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade thus became a formidable unit, consisting of a few thousand soldiers.[9] The Brigade played a crucial role in the war in Donbas, serving from 25 May to November 2016.[9] The brigade was deployed to defend key areas around Marinka, Krasnohorivka, Taramchuk, Stepne, and Solodke, where it faced relentless attacks from separatist and Russian artillery, mortars, and tanks.[12] Despite the challenges, the brigade held its ground, successfully defending against repeated assaults from enemy forces.[13]

On 24 August 2016, the Independence Day of Ukraine, the brigade was presented with its battle flag by President Petro Poroshenko, recognizing their bravery and dedication in defending their country.[14] During its tour in the Donbas war, the brigade lost 22 which were killed in action before the end of the deployment.[15] After completing its tour in the Donbas, the brigade returned to Kolomyia in November.[16] The 24th Assault and 46th Separate Special Purpose Battalions were withdrawn from the brigade due to the desire to station them closer to their homes, as 80% of their personnel were from western Ukraine.[16] The brigade underwent further reorganization after its first deployment to the war in Donbas from May to November 2016.[11] In December 2016, the 108th and 109th Separate Mountain Assault Battalions were established to replace the previously withdrawn 24th Assault and 46th Separate Special Purpose Battalions.[17] The brigade resumed its mountain training, including a climb to Veliky Verkh and to the summit of Hoverla, the tallest peak in Ukraine, to honor the Ukrainian casualties of the Battle of Debaltseve.[7] In September 2017, the brigade was deployed again to the Donbas to defend positions around Popasna, with a soldier being killed in action on 23 September during fighting at Novooleksandrivka.[17]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade was reported to have taken part in the defense of the country in battles around Mariupol in February 2022[18] and Bakhmut in December 2022.[19] In mid-March 2022, units of the brigade's 109th Battalion captured the village of Kukhari [uk] in Kyiv Oblast, preventing a potential Russian breakthrough towards Kyiv.[20] On 14 February 2023, the brigade was granted the Edelweiss honorific by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in honor of its mountain troops traditions.[21]

Structure

As of 2023, the brigade's structure is as follows:[22]

  • 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
    • Brigade Headquarters and HQ Company
    • 8th Mountain Assault Infantry Battalion
    • 108th Mountain Assault Infantry Battalion
    • 109th Mountain Assault Infantry Battalion
    • Tank Battalion
    • 10th Mountain Artillery Regiment
      • Regimental HQ and Target Acquisition Battery
      • Observer Battery
      • 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion (Towed)
      • 2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion (Self-Propelled)
    • Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Artillery Battalion
    • Reconnaissance battalion
    • Mountain Combat Engineer Battalion
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Maintenance Battalion
    • Signal Company
    • Radar Company
    • Medical Company
    • CBRN Protection Company
    • MP Platoon
    • Brigade Band

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-reports-more-advances-south-battles-rage-east-2023-07-24/
  2. ^ "The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade neutralized three dozen Russian invaders". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  3. ^ "Ukrainian mountain assault battalion shows destruction, capture of Russian invaders". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  4. ^ "Volodymyr Zelensky: The situation in Donbas is difficult; I thank our guys who hold their positions firmly and find opportunities to "subtract" the occupiers". odessa-journal.com. 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  5. ^ "10 гірсько-штурмова бригада поповниться легендарним підрозділом, "Айдар" базуватиметься у Коломиї" [10th Mountain Brigade will included the legendary assault unit Aidar based in Kolomyia]. 10brygada.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Ukrainian Military Pages: В ЗСУ формують 10-ту гірсько-штурмову бригаду" [Ukrainian Military Pages: In the Armed Forces formed the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade]. www.ukrmilitary.com (in Ukrainian). 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b "У складі ЗСУ сформували нову гірсько-штурмову бригаду, - Міноборони" [As part of the Armed Forces formed a new mountain-assault brigade - Defense]. Den (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  8. ^ a b "На Прикарпатті створять нову гірську штурмову бригаду - Народна армія" [In the mountainous Carpathian region will create new assault brigade]. na.mil.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Narodna armiya. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  9. ^ a b c "10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада повертається з передової у Коломию. ФОТО" [10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade returns to Kolomyia from the front]. Vikna (in Ukrainian). 3 November 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  10. ^ "У Чернівецькій області створять окремий гірсько-штурмовий батальйон" [A new separate mountain battalion will be created in Chernivtsi Oblast]. vidido.ua (in Ukrainian). 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  11. ^ a b "Гірські піхотинці 10 огшбр "Едельвейс" взяли найвищу вершину України — Говерлу" [10th ohshbr "Edelweiss" Mountain Infantry take highest peak in Ukraine, Hoverla] (in Ukrainian). Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  12. ^ Ragutskaya, Liliya (14 October 2017). "У мене в РФ рідня, але я росіян сюди не кликав: як воює на Донбасі наймолодша бригада ЗСУ" [I have family in Russia, but I am not called Russian here: How the youngest Ukrainian Armed Forces brigade fought in the Donbas]. Apostrof (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. ^ "НАЙМОЛОДША В ЗСУ: ЯК 10-ТА ШТУРМОВА БРИГАДА СВЯТКУВАЛА РІЧНИЦЮ – СЮЖЕТ" [Youngest in the Armed Forces: The story of how the 10th Brigade celebrated its anniversary]. 5 Kanal (in Ukrainian). 1 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  14. ^ Goncharova, Olena (6 October 2017). "Russia's war against Ukraine has killed at least 2,752 soldiers". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  15. ^ Miller, Christopher (10 August 2016). "Guns Of August: Fears Of Full-Scale War Return As Casualties Mount In Ukraine". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ^ a b "У Коломиї створили нову 10 гірсько-штурмову бригаду" [In Kolomyia created new Mountain-Assault Brigade]. 10brygada.com.ua (in Ukrainian). 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Russian invasion update: Ukraine repels tank attack, captures six Russians in Mariupol". Ukrinform. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Russian invasion update: Ukraine repels tank attack, captures six Russians in Mariupol". Ukrinform. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  19. ^ Tetiana Pushnova (24 December 2022). "The war overwhelmed everything: how Andriy Lyubka threw literature and sat on the "needle of volunteering"". Life (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  20. ^ Басалига, Маріана (2022-05-12). ""Ми сильні духом, в нас козацька кров тече". Бійці "десятки" розповіли, як звільняли від військових РФ село Кухарі". Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  21. ^ Zelenskyy awards special honourable title to the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade. Ukrainska Pravda (14 February 2023)
  22. ^ "Ukraine Downs Another Russian Warplane | MENAFN.COM". menafn.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
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