10th Mountain Assault Brigade (Ukraine)

10th Mountain Assault Brigade
Ukrainian: 10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада
Active 2015–present
Country  Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
Type Mountain troops
Part of Operation Command West
Garrison/HQ Kolomyia
MUN B3950
Engagements War in Donbass
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Vasyl Zubanych

The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade is a mountain warfare brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It is part of Operation Command West and is based in Kolomyia. Formed in late 2015, the brigade fought in the War in Donbass between May and November 2016, defending positions around Marinka.

History

The brigade was formed on 30 October 2015 in Koloymia, part of Operation Command West. It included the 24th Separate Assault Battalion, the former Aidar Battalion.[1] The brigade is commanded by Colonel and Hero of Ukraine Vasyl Zubanych, a former battalion commander in the 128th Mechanized Brigade. According to Zubanych in an interview at the time, the brigade will be deployed to the Donbass if necessary in a war with Russia. [2] The main purpose of the brigade at the time was to protect Bukovina from Romanian territorial claims.[3][4] The first group of recruits were 1,000 volunteers on a contract basis. There initially was a 25% pay increase offered to recruits, as recognition of their status as mountain troops. [5] In January 2016, it was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence that the brigade was ready to begin combat training.[6] As of January 2016 the brigade was stationed at Bila Tserkva pending completion of new barracks in Kolomyia.[7] In February 2016, it was decided by the Ukrainian Ground Forces to form a new Bukovina mountain battalion at Chernivtsi. The 8th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion[8] and the 46th Separate Special Purpose Battalion "Donbass-Ukraine" also became part of the brigade.[9] The 8th Motorized Infantry, the 24th Assault, and the 46th Separate Special Purpose Battalion formed the entirety of the brigade, consisting of a few thousand men.[10]

The brigade fought in the War in Donbass from 25 May to November 2016. The brigade defended the area around Marinka, Krasnohorivka, Taramchuk, Stepne, and Solodke. Immediately after the brigade took over its sector, it was shelled by separatist and Russian artillery, mortars, and tanks, mainly at night. The brigade also defended against repeated assaults by Russian and separatist troops. On the Independence Day of Ukraine, 24 August 2016, President Petro Poroshenko presented the brigade its battle flag.[9] Between September and October, four soldiers of the brigade were killed in action.[11] After the end of its tour in the Donbass, the brigade returned to Kolomyia.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "На Івано-Франківщині створять нову гірську штурмову бригаду" [Ivano-Frankivsk create new mountain assault brigade]. Styk News (in Ukrainian). 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "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). 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Сформовано нову гірсько-штурмову бригаду (Фото)" [New Mountain Assault Brigade formed (Photo)]. Paralleli (in Ukrainian). 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-21. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. 1 2 Ahyeyev, Andriy (30 September 2016). "Бригада — нащадок добробатів святкує свою річницю" [Brigade, descended from volunteers, celebrates anniversary]. Narodnaya Armiya (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Goncharova, Olena; Talant, Bermet (14 October 2016). "At least 17 soldiers killed in war with Russia since ‘back-to-school ceasefire’". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "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.
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