28th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

The 28th Mechanized Brigade (Ukrainian: 28-ма окрема механізо́вана брига́да імені Лицарів Зимового Походу) is a mechanized brigade and part of the formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.^[5]

28th Mechanized Brigade (2016–present) 28th Guards Mechanized Brigade (2001–2016) 28th Guards Motor Rifle Division (1957–2001) 28th Guards Rifle Division (1942–1957)
Ukrainian: 28-ма окрема механізована бригада
28th Mechanized Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1942–present
Country	Soviet Union (1930s–1991)  CIS (1991–1992)  Ukraine (1992–present)
Branch	Ground Forces
Type	Mechanized Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	Operational Command South
Garrison/HQ	Chornomorske^[1] Odesa Oblast, Ukraine
Patron	Knights of the First Winter Campaign^[2]
Motto(s)	With Will and Iron
Engagements	World War II War in Donbas 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Southern Ukraine offensive Liberation of Kherson Battle of Donbas Battle of Bakhmut^[3]
Decorations	For Courage and Bravery
Commanders
Current commander	Yuriy Madyar
Notable commanders	Vitaliy Gulyaev (2021-22) †^[4]

History

The original 28th Guards Rifle Division was formed during the Second World War from the 180th Rifle Division in May 1942. The division fought at Kharkiv and Iași. It was with the 37th Army in Bulgaria in May 1945. During the 1980s, the then 28th Guards Motor Rifle Division was part of the 14th Guards Army headquartered at Chișinău, in the Moldavian SSR (Odesa Military District). After the fall of the Soviet Union it became part of the reorganised Ukrainian 6th Army Corps. After the 6th Army Corps was disbanded in 2013, the brigade became part of Operational Command South.^{[citation needed]}

The brigade fought in the war in Donbas.^[6] On 22 August 2016, its Guards title was removed.^[7] On 22 August 2019 by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky the official name of the brigade became: 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the First Winter Campaign.^[2]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

The brigade is taking part in the defense of Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, primarily in the southern theater. According to the chairman of the Public Council at the Odesa Regional State Administration Serhiy Bratchuk, the Russians tried to plant a maritime and air landing in Kobleve [uk] on the Black Sea coast of the Mykolaiv area. As a result of the brigade, the Russians' attempt to plant a landing was stopped, and they enemy retreated, losing up to 25 soldiers. Two more saboteurs were detained in the village of Kobleve.^[8][9] After the defense of Kobleve, the 28th Brigade took part in the defense of Voznesensk.^[10]

The brigade defended the Oleksandrivka sector of the front line between Kherson and Mykolaiv throughout 2022.^[11] On July 23, 2022, the commander of the brigade, Vitaliy Gulyaev, was killed in Mykolaiv region.^[12] On the 12th of November, elements of the brigade were seen entering Kherson as part of the liberation of the city during the southern offensive.

Elements of the brigade are also present in the Battle of Bakhmut as of February 2023, with servicemen interviewed by CNN^[13] and portrayed by The New Yorker.^[14] Between November 2022 and January 2023, a battalion of the 28th Mechanized Brigade numbering 600 men was reported to had been almost annihilated fighting in a village south of Bakhmut, with around 70 soldiers said to have been encircled and massacred in one incident.^[15]

The drone reconnaissance unit "Madyar's Birds", led by Robert "Madyar" Brovdi was absorbed into the brigade at some point during the war.^[16]

Structure

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

• 28th Mechanized Brigade, Chornomorske
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 1st Mechanized Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
  • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
  • 5th Reserve Battalion
  • Detachment South of Ukrainian Volunteer Army
  • Tank Battalion
  • Artillery Battalion
    • Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery
    • Self-propelled Artillery Battery (M109)
    • Self-propelled Artillery Battery (PzH 2000)
    • Rocket Artillery Battery (BM-27 Uragan)
    • Anti-tank Artillery Battery (100 mm anti-tank gun T-12)
  • Anti-Aircraft Defense Battery
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Mobile Assault Unit "Kurt & Company"^[17]
  • Attack Drone Company
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Engineering Support Group
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Sniper Company
  • Electronic Warfare Company
  • Signal Company
  • Radar Company
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
  • Medical Company

References

1. [Vienna Document of 1999 Bundeswehr inspectors will inspect the 28th separate mechanized brigade of the 6th Army Corps Armed Forces of Ukraine, located in Odesa Region] (in Ukrainian). Press Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 21 November 2006. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
2. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №618/2019" [DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE №618 / 2019] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
3. Santora, Marc; Hicks, Tyler (17 May 2023). "Gains Near Bakhmut Raise Ukraine's Hopes of a Turning Tide". The New York Times.
4. "Лицар: на півдні України загинув наш захисник, командир 28-ї окремої механізованої бригади Віталій Гуляєв". Dumskaya. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
5. [Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 569/2006] (in Ukrainian). Press Service of the President of Ukraine. 23 June 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
6. "Heavy fighting resumes in Ukraine". The Independent. 3 June 2015. from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
7. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №344/2016" [Ukaz of the President of Ukraine No. 344/2016] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
8. . 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
9. . 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
10. Ткач, Юлія (19 April 2023). "«Ми розбили усю колонну», — боєць 28-ї бригади розповів про бої за Вознесенськ". НикВести (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 10 May 2024.
11. "Living under the fire: everyday life of a family farm from Kherson region on the front line". Hromadske. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
12. "На Миколаївщині загинув командир 28-ї бригади ЗСУ Віталій Гуляєв". novynarnia.com (in Ukrainian). 24 July 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
13. Hak, Konstantin; Lister, Tim; Pleitgen, Frederik (1 February 2023). "Fighting Wagner is like a 'zombie movie' says Ukrainian soldier". CNN. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
14. Mogelson, Luke (22 May 2023). "Two Weeks at the Front in Ukraine". The New Yorker. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
15. Mogelson, Luke (22 May 2023). "Two Weeks at the Front in Ukraine". The New Yorker.
16. Luczkiw, Stash (18 March 2023). "OPINION: Ukraine's Avengers: Every Nation Needs Its Superheroes". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
17. «Підскакуємо на багі і закидуємо вогнем» — репортаж з «Куртом» біля Бахмута, retrieved 12 March 2024