128th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

1st Turkmenistan Rifle Division (1922–35)
83rd Mountain Rifle Division (1935–43)
128th Guards Mountain Rifle Division (1943–57)
128th Guards Motor Rifle Division (1957–1991)
128th Mechanized Division (1992–2004)
128th Mechanized Brigade (2004–present)

Division Insignia
Active July 12, 1922 – January 1992
January 1992 – present
Country Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
Type Mechanized
Part of 13th Army Corps
Garrison/HQ Mukachevo[1] Zakarpattia Oblast Ukraine
Colour of the Brigade
Anniversaries July 12
Engagements World War II
2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine[2]
Decorations Order of the Red Banner (2)
Battle honours Turkestan, Zakarpattia
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Romigaylo Petro Dmitrovich
Notable
commanders		 Sergiy Tumoshkov (1st Commander)
Insignia
Guards unit
Mechanized branch insignia

The 128th Guards Mechanized Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Full name of the Brigade is 128th Separate Guards Mechanized Turkestan-Zakarpattia twice Order of Red Banner Brigade, (Ukrainian: 128 окрема гвардійська механізована Туркестансько-закарпатська двічі ордена Червоного Прапора бригада).[3]

History

The 128th Mechanized Division was first formed within the then USSR's Red Army as the 1st Turkmenistan Rifle Division on July 12, 1922 in the city of Poltoratsk (now Ashgabat, Turkmenistan). (Other sources give the original name as the 1st Turkmenistan Mountain Division).[4] It was a Turkmen national formation. Sergiy Tumoshkov became the Division's first commander. The Division was renamed 83rd Mountain Rifle Division on July 1, 1935.[5] On June 22, 1941, the 83rd Mountain Rifle Division was part of 58th Rifle Corps, Central Asia Military District.[6] Between 1 September and 1 October 1941 the division was assigned to the 53rd Army, still located within the Central Asia Military District.[7] By January 1942 the division, still with 58th Rifle Corps, had been dispatched to Iran as part of the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran.

From January 1, 1943 the Division fought near the area of Krasnodar where it was assigned to the 56th Army. After successfully liberating the region of Kuban and the Taman Peninsula, the Division was awarded the Guards designation on October 8, 1943, and renamed as the 128th Guards Turkmenistan Rifle Division.[1]

On April 24, 1944 for participation in the battles for Crimea, the Division was awarded its first Order of the Red Banner. During the month of August, the Division participated in battles for Carpathian Mountains. The Division liberated Zakarpattya and on October 12, 1944 crossed the border with Czechoslovakia. Units of the Division liberated Ostrava, Olomouc and other cities.[1]

On May 8, 1985 the Division was awarded its second Order of the Red Banner in honor of the 40th anniversary of Victory Day.[8]

On 31 December 1992, in Decree 642/92, the President of Ukraine promoted the commander of the 128th Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Carpathian Military District, Colonel ЗАБОЛОТНОМУ Вячеславу Григоровичу, to Major-General.[9]

In accordance with a decree of 23 August 1998, Colonel МАСЛЕНЧУКУ Олександру Семеновичу – commander of the 128th Mechanised Division of the 38th Army Corps Західного оперативного командування Ground Forces of Ukraine; was promoted to major-general.[10]

On May 27, 2000 the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, General of the Army Oleksandr Kuzmuk presented the Division with its Battle Banner, and read the Order of the President of Ukraine awarding the Division the honorable name "Zakarpattia".[8]

In 2002 the Division was under 38th Army Corps.[11] After 38th Army Corps was disbanded, the Division became part of 13th Corps.

On June 18, 2004 the 128th Guards Motor Rifle Division was reorganized into a Brigade by the order of Minister of Defense.[8]

In 2014–15 the brigade has been fighting in the War in Donbass taking part in the Battle of Debaltseve

The Brigade has a training ground near the city of Vynohradiv.

Structure

Division Order of Battle

The 327th Mechanized Regiment[13] was reorganized to form the 15th Mountain Infantry Battalion, which became the only Mountain Infantry formation in the current Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Former Commanders

Awards

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Zakarpattia regional gov article". Zak-rada.gov.ua. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  2. ↑ (Ukrainian) In a night battle in the Luhansk region killed 15 soldiers, the fate of another 13 unknown, Ukrayinska Pravda (18 June 2014)
  3. ↑ "List of full names of the Ukrainian Military unit". President.gov.ua. 2006-06-23. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  4. ↑ "128-I Turkestan Krasnoznamennaya Guards Rifle Division". Rkka.ru. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  5. ↑ А. Г. Ленский, Сухопутные силы РККА в предвоенные годы. Справочник. — Санкт-Петербург Б&К, 2000
  6. ↑ Orbat.com/Niehorster, Central Asia Military District, 22 June 1941, accessed October 2011
  7. ↑ BSSA via tashv.nm.ru
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "MoD news article". Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  9. ↑ http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/642/92
  10. ↑ http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/925/98
  11. ↑ 128th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine) at WebCite
  12. ↑ "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". Mil.gov.ua. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  13. ↑ John Pike. "Ground Forces – Ukraine". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  14. ↑ "Про присвоєння військових звань| вiд 31.12.1992 № 642/92". Zakon.rada.gov.ua. 1992-12-31. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  15. ↑ "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". Mil.gov.ua. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  16. ↑ "— Мукачево: "Прощавай, зброє!" — горячие новости". Ua-reporter.com. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  17. ↑ "Про присвоєння почесного найменування "Закарпатська" 12...| вiд 10.01.2000 № 11/2000". Zakon1.rada.gov.ua. 2000-10-30. Retrieved 2012-06-07.