155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade
The 155th Separate Guards Brigade of Naval Infantry (Russian: 155-я отдельная гвардейская бригада морской пехоты) is a brigade-sized formation of the Russian Naval Infantry. It is located in the city of Vladivostok and the village of Slovianka, Primorsky Krai.[1] It is part of the Pacific Fleet. In Western sources the title is sometimes translated as "Marines."
| 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 155-я отдельная гвардейская бригада морской пехоты | |
| Active | December 1, 2009 - Present |
| Country | Russian Navy Pacific Fleet |
| Type | Marines |
| Garrison/HQ | Vladivostok, Slavyanka (Primorsky Territory) |
In 2022 and 2023, the brigade took part in a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it fought near Kyiv,[2] Pavlivka, and Vuhledar.
History edit
The 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade was created on December 1, 2009, by reorganizing the 55th Naval Infantry Division, which was created in 1968.[3]
War in Chechnya edit
The 155th Separate Marine Brigade performed combat missions in Chechnya during the First Russian-Chechen War.[4] First, the 165th Marine Regiment was sent, followed by the consolidated 106th Marine Regiment, which operated in the foothills and mountainous regions of Chechnya. More than 2,400 servicemen were awarded orders and medals, 63 infantrymen died in battle, and five of them became a Hero of the Russian Federation.[5]
Involvement in Syria edit
During the Russian intervention in Syria, the 155th brigade provided support and cover to the PKS aviation group as part of the Permanent Operational Unit of the Russian Navy.[6]
2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine edit
Starting in 2022, the brigade took part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7]
On March 13, journalist Roman Tsimbalyuk reported on the brigade's some losses in the battles: "about 600 servicemen killed and the same number wounded" But not confirmed.[8]
On March 19, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that separate units of the 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade and the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) were transferred to the territory of Belarus to replace the losses of the Eastern Military District.[9]
On March 28, President Putin assigned the brigade the rank of guards, at the same time as the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade.[10]
On April 3–4, 2022, units of the Russian Armed Forces were reported to have committed war crimes during the occupation of settlements near Kyiv. The 155th brigade occupied the area of the town of Ivankiv — the village of Rozvazhiv in the Vyshgorod district of the Kyiv region.[11][12][13]
In early November 2022, there were reports of heavy losses in the brigade in battles in the Pavlivka area near Vuhledar in the Donetsk region.[14] The servicemen of the brigade and Russian propagandists wrote an open letter, addressing Putin, in which they claimed that in four days they had lost "about 300 people killed, wounded and missing" due to the fault of the command - generals Muradov and Akhmedov - and asked to send an independent commission, not associated with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.[15]
In early February 2023, the 155th brigade again suffered heavy losses during the offensive on Vuhledar.[16] Video recordings of one combat encounter show about 30 destroyed Russian combat vehicles:[17] 13 destroyed tanks and 12 BMPs are about half of the Russian tank battalion.[18] Ossetian military correspondents tried to place the blame for tactical failures on the higher command, in particular again on General Muradov. However, the footage shows Russian forces engaged in ineffective operations, showing that the 155th Brigade appears to be made up of freshly mobilized soldiers who are poorly trained.[19]
Composition edit
2019 edit
- 59th Naval Infantry Battalion (Slovyanka village);
- 47th Assault Battalion;
- 287th Self-propelled artillery division (Slovyanka village);
- 288th Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Division;
Losses edit
It is known about the loss of 74 people in the 155th Separate Marine Brigade who were killed during the invasion of Ukraine as of September 2022.[20]
References edit
- ^ Tsurkan, Rostislav (2023-02-13). "Під Вугледаром ЗСУ знищили 155-ту бригаду морської піхоти з Владивостока" [The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the 155th brigade of marines from Vladivostok near Vuhledar]. Podrobytsi. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Rudomskyi, Ruslan (2022-05-24). "90% від складу полку: окупанти з елітної Таманської дивізії масово пишуть рапорти на звільнення – розвідка" ["90% of the regiment's composition": occupiers from the elite Taman division en masse write reports for dismissal - intelligence]. Obozrevatel (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Nandy, Sumana (2022-03-28). "'Guards' title for Russia's two naval brigades for protecting Fatherland". India Today. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Минобороны опровергло заявления о высоких потерях 155-й бригады ТОФ" [The Ministry of Defense denied statements about the high losses of the 155th brigade of the Pacific Fleet]. Vedomosti (in Russian). 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Гвардия с Тихого океана" [Guard from the Pacific]. vladnews.ru (in Russian). 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Фонд "ОФИЦЕРСКОЕ БРАТСТВО" поздравил личный состав и ветеранов 55-й дивизии — ныне 155-й отдельной бригады морской пехоты Тихоокеанского флота с 50-летием со Дня образования" [The Officer Brotherhood Foundation congratulated the personnel and veterans of the 55th Division - now the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet on the 50th anniversary of its formation]. fondob.ru. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Axe, David (2022-11-07). "Russian Marines Are Getting Killed And Wounded By The Hundreds In Ukraine". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Korogodskyi, Yuriy (2022-03-13). "ЗСУ майже повністю знищили бригаду морської піхоти росіян," [The Armed Forces almost completely destroyed the Russian marine brigade,]. LB.ua. from the original on 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "У білорусь перекинули війська з іншого кінця росії, аби поповнити втрати" [Troops from the other side of Russia were transferred to Belarus to replenish losses]. Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Sokirko, Viktor (2022-03-28). "Спецоперация на Украине рождает новую российскую гвардию" [Special operation in Ukraine gives rise to a new Russian guard]. Vzglyad (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Українські спецслужби назвали відповідальних за воєнні злочини на Чернігівщині та Київщині" [Ukrainian special services named those responsible for war crimes in Chernihiv region and Kyiv region]. 24 Kanal (in Ukrainian). 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Хто розстрілював мирних людей на Київщині та Чернігівщині: перелік підрозділів військ РФ" [Who shot civilians in Kyiv region and Chernihiv region: a list of Russian military units]. apostrophe.ua (in Ukrainian). 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Стали відомі підрозділи ЗС Росії, які чинили злочини в Бучі" [Units of the Russian Armed Forces, which committed crimes in Buch, became known]. novynarnia.com (in Ukrainian). 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ ""Нам уже ніколи не буде соромно". Десять знакових перемог України за рік великої війни з РФ" ["We will never be ashamed." Ten significant victories of Ukraine during the year of the great war with the Russian Federation]. nv.ua. 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Gičko, Marta (2022-07-11). ""Людей називають м'ясом": російські морпіхи за 4 дні втратили 300 осіб під Вугледаром" ["People are called meat": Russian marines lost 300 people in 4 days near Vugledar]. Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Axe, David (2023-02-08). "Smashed By Ukrainian Mines And Artillery, Russia's Winter Offensive Just Ground To A Halt Outside Vuhledar". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Aksenov, Pavel (2023-02-11). "Началось ли большое российское наступление в Украине?" [Has a major Russian offensive begun in Ukraine?]. BBC News (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 9, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Ivshina, Olga (2022-09-01). "Елітні бійці Путіна. Кого саме втратила російська армія в Україні" [Putin's elite fighters. Who exactly did the Russian army lose in Ukraine?]. BBC News (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.