93rd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

The 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" (Ukrainian: 93-тя окрема механізована бригада «Холодний Яр») is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

93rd Mechanized Brigade Kholodnyi Yar
93-тя механізована бригада Холодний Яр
Patch of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade
Active	January 1, 1992 - today
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Ukrainian Ground Forces
Type	Mechanized infantry
Garrison/HQ	Cherkaske, Dnipro oblast
Motto(s)	Never back!
Engagements	War in Donbas Second Battle of Donetsk Airport 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Kharkiv Battle of Trostianets Battle of Bakhmut^[1]^[2] Battle of Soledar
Website	https://www.facebook.com/93OMBr/
Commanders
Current commander	Col. Ruslan Shevchuk

In October 2022 American military correspondent David Axe described the formation as "one of the most brutally effective" of Ukraine’s front-line brigades.^[1]

History

 

93rd Mechanized Brigade operate captured Russian T-80BV tanks during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The brigade traces its history back to the 93rd Guards Rifle Division of the Soviet Union's Red Army, formed at Valuki in April 1943 from 13th Guards and 92nd Rifle Brigades. The division fought at Kursk, Kharkiv, Budapest, and Prague, and was serving with the 53rd Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front in May 1945.^[3] After a period as a 35th Guards Mechanized Division, and then 35th Guards Motor Rifle Division 1957–65, the division was redesignated as the 93rd Guards Motor Rifle Division in 1965. It served with the Southern Group of Forces in Hungary during the last years of the Cold War,^[4] and after the fall of the Berlin Wall was withdrawn to Ukraine from October 1990 to January 1991.

There it became part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In Decree 925/96(?), Colonel Anatoly Savatiovich Pushnyakov, Commander of the 93rd Mechanised Division of the 6th Army Corps, Southern Operational Command, Ukrainian Ground Forces, was promoted to General-Major.

The division appears to have been redesignated a brigade after 1996 and after 1999.

Throughout 1999, the '93rd Motor Rifle Division' conducted a series of small unit and staff officer exchanges with the 40th Infantry Division of the California Army National Guard.^[5]

On December 10, 2007, the Brigade received its Colour by the order of the President of Ukraine.

 

Former patch of the 93rd

The brigade fought in the war in Donbas, defending Donetsk International Airport during the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport alongside other units. Thus, they are one of the units considered as one of the "cyborgs".^[6]

The brigade is currently based in Pokrovsk.^[7] On 18 November 2015 its honorifics "Twice Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov" were removed as part of an Armed Forces-wide removal of Soviet awards and honorifics, but not its Kharkiv battle honor,^[8] given as a result of its participation in the 1943 Belgorod-Khar'kov Offensive Operation. On 22 August 2016, its Guards title was also removed.^[9]

In honor of the centennial year of the Ukrainian War of Independence the brigade received its second honorific title, Kholodnyi Yar (Kholodnyi Yar was a pro-Ukrainian partisan self-proclaimed state that existed from 1919 to 1922), in 2018, and thus its Kharkiv battle honour was officially removed from the full title of the unit.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]} A new colour was also received by the brigade command which differs from the maroon colour it received in 2007.

Participation in peacekeeping missions

In the recent history of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 93rd Division became the first basic unit to train the first units of the peacekeeping forces. The 108th peacekeeping training center was established on the basis of the 112th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the division. Here were formed 15 rotations of the 240th battalion, which performed peacekeeping functions in the former Yugoslavia. Also on the basis of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion, the 71st Separate Mechanized Battalion was formed to be included in the 7th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which carried out the peacekeeping mission in Iraq in 2004–2005, but was disbanded at the end of training due to the decision to reduce the contingent, a small part of its personnel was sent to replenish the 73rd Battalion.^[17] Soldiers also served in peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Lebanon.

Russo-Ukrainian War

Main article: Russo-Ukrainian War

War in Donbas

The brigade was deployed in the War in Donbas against the Russian army and its proxy forces. The unit fought on the frontlines from 2014 to 2016 before being recalled in March 2016. During this period, 138 soldiers were killed in action, over 1,000 were wounded, and 9 soldiers were held as prisoners of war.^[18] The brigade was involved in the battle of Ilovaisk, Avdiivka, the defence of Donetsk airport, the defence of Marinka, and the defence of Pisky.^[19] A documentary 93: Battle for Ukraine has been made by Ukrainian director Lidia Guzhva about the brigade's role in the war, constructed primarily from videos made by members of the brigade themselves, as well as interviews with members of the brigade.^[20]

The brigade returned to the frontline. On 19 July 2016 an IFV of the brigade detonated an IED, killing two soldiers.^[21]

In June 2017 the brigade moved deeper into the no man's land near the village of Krymske and set up fortifications there "to exert stricter fire control over the enemy, and provides for a better defense."^[22]

2022 Russian invasion

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade was involved in the wider Northeastern Ukraine campaign by stopping the elite 4th Guards Tank Division's advance in the Battle of Trostianets after it had been overextended and undersupplied due to Ukrainian partisan resistance in the Sumy Oblast.

In August 2022, the 93rd liberated the village of Mazanivka southwest of Izium and was noted for being one of the few Ukrainian formations actively liberating Russian-occupied territory.^[23]

By September 2022, the brigade participated in the Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive specifically moving into the Izium axis against the Operational Group of Russian Forces Izium's vulnerable left flank. The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that Russian forces in the Izium region were "pulled out" to reinforce the Donbas. Following this, the city's mayor, Valeriy Marchenko, stated during a September 10th interview that "Izium was liberated today."^[24]

In October 2022, the 93rd Mechanized Brigade left Izium for the Battle of Bakhmut holding the northern sector of the besieged city while the 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade held the south counterattacking assaults by Wagner Group mercenaries. The brigade recaptured the M03 and M06 highways east of Bakhmut.^[1] Heavy casualties have been reported on both sides for units participating in the battle and the 93rd was rotated out of the front and replaced with other units.^[25]

Brigade Order of Battle

1997

•   Division Command and Staff
•   Guards Company
•   110th Mechanized Regiment
•   529th Mechanized Regiment
•   87th Armoured Regiment
•   Command and Artillery Reconnaissance Company
•   198th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment
•   446th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion
•   1039th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
•   108th Combat Engineer Battalion
•   166th Signal Battalion
•   1119th Logistics Battalion
•   16th Reconnaissance Battalion
•   35th Electronic Warfare Company
•   73rd Repair and Recovery Battalion
•   89th Medical Battalion
•   133rd Chemical Battalion
•   16th Training Area^[26]
•   Military Band

2007

• 1st Mechanized Battalion^[27]
• 2nd Mechanized Battalion
• 3rd Mechanized Battalion
• Armored Battalion

Current Structure

As of 2017 the brigade's structure is as follows:

• 93rd Mechanized Brigade, Cherkaske
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 1st Mechanized Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
  • 3rd Mechanized Battalion
  • Tank Battalion
  • 20th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Dnipro"
  • Brigade Artillery Group
    • Headquarters & Target Acquisition Battery
    • Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S3 Akatsiya)
    • Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (2S1 Gvozdika)
    • Rocket Artillery Battalion (BM-21 Grad)
    • Anti-tank Artillery Battalion (MT-12 Rapira)
  • Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Battalion
  • Engineer Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Sniper Company
  • Electronic Warfare Company
  • Signal Company
  • Radar Company
  • CBRN-defense Company
  • Medical Company
  • Military Band

Awards

• 19?? received the Guards designation.
• 19?? received the Order of the Red Banner
• 19?? received the honorable name «Kharkiv»
• 19?? received the Order of Suvorov
• 19?? received the Order of Kutuzov^[28]
• On December 10, 2007, received its Colour^[29]
• 2018 received "Kholodnyi Yar" honorific

Traditions

Anniversaries

Until 2018 inclusive, the brigade celebrated the anniversaries on May 10. This day was previously considered the day of creation of the brigade.^[30]

Since 2018, August 22 is considered the anniversary, the day when the brigade was awarded the honorary name "Kholodny Yar" by Presidential Decree No. 232/2018 and a new colour was presented.^[31]

Symbolics

On January 22, 2018, Roman Donik announced his intention to give the brigade the honorary name "Kholodny Yar", in honor of the glorious historical area with a long military history.^{[32][33][34][35]}

Also, as part of updating the brigade symbols, it was decided to change the anthem of the military unit. The words for the new song were written by a soldier of the press service of the 93rd OMBr, junior sergeant Vlad "Zmiy" Sord,^[36] and Serhii Vasylyuk, the frontman of the Ukrainian band "Shadow of the Sun", wrote the music and set Stafiychuk's poem to it.

On May 10, 2018, at the celebrations for the day of the military unit, the brigade was presented with and consecrated an honorary banner to the new honorary name "Kholodny Yar".^[37][38] This is the second case in the history of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, after the 24th mechanized brigade, when the brigade receives an honorary (motivational) flag in addition to the official battle flag.^[39][40]

In July 2018, it was announced that award-winning knives with the brigade's insignia would be developed for distinguished soldiers.^[41]

By Decree of the President of Ukraine dated August 22, 2018, No. 232/2018, the brigade was given the honorary name "Kholodny Yar". Before that, the brigade had the honorary name "Kharkivska".^[42][43]

On August 24, 2018, before the start of the military parade in honor of the 27th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine, the commander of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodny Yar", Colonel Vladyslav Klochkov, received a new battle flag from the hands of the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.^[44]

On February 23, 2019, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko officially approved the new emblem of the brigade.^[45]

On May 6, 2022, the brigade was awarded the honorary award "For Honor and Courage".^[46]

Notes

References

1. David Axe (October 25, 2022). "A Fierce Ukrainian Mechanized Brigade Is Routing Russian Mercenaries In One Symbolic Eastern Town". Forbes.
2. "Zelenskiy / Official".
3. Poirer and Connor, Red Army Order of Battle
4. Michael Holm/V.I.Feskov et al., 93rd Guards Motorised Rifle Division 2017-08-14 at the Wayback Machine, 2015.
5. Globalsecurity.org, Ukrainian National Guard 2021-08-24 at the Wayback Machine
6. "Полоненого "кіборга" побили "мирні" жителі Донецька" [The captured "cyborg" was beaten by "peaceful" residents of Donetsk]. Ukrainian National Information Agency News (UNN). All online daily news in Ukraine today - fresh, recent, major. from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
7. Barnes, Julian E. . Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
8. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №646/2015" [Ukaz President of Ukraine No. 646/2015] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 21 November 2015. from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
9. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №344/2016" [Ukaz of the President of Ukraine No. 344/2016] (in Ukrainian). President of Ukraine. 22 August 2016. from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
10. "93-я окрема механізована бригада ЗС України отримає почесне ім'я "Холодний Яр"". Ukrainian Military Pages. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
11. "93-тя окрема механізована бригада ЗСУ отримає почесне найменування "Холодний Яр"". Прочерк. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
12. ""Холодний Яр": почесна назва 93 бригади". mil.in.ua. Український мілітарний портал. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
13. "93-тя бригада ЗСУ отримає почесне найменування "Холодний Яр", нові нарукавні знаки та бойове знамено". ТСН. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
14. 93 ОМБр ЗСУ стане Холодноярською. ФОТО 2020-09-19 at the Wayback Machine // Військовий навігатор України
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18. "Ukrainian infantry brigade returns home after nearly two years on the frontline". Ukraine Today. from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
19. Nathan, Adam (13 June 2015). "The 93rd brigade: Part of the Red Army in WWII, it now fights against Russian-backed separatists". The Independent. from the original on 2021-02-23. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
20. Sokolynska, Olena (3 April 2018). "Soldiers Tell About Ukrainian-Russian War". Kharkiv Observer. from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
21. "Donbas death toll rises: Ukraine reports 7 KIA, 14 WIA in 24 hours". UNIAN. 19 July 2016. from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
22. Ukrainian combat units advance near frontline town of Krymske 2017-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, Kyiv Post (2 June 2017)
23. Axe, David. "Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade Just Liberated A Village From The Russians". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
24. Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Santora, Marc (2022-09-10). "Ukrainian Offensive Seen as Reshaping the War's Contours". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
25. Anonym. "The Armed Forces explained whether the 93rd brigade is really leaving Bakhmut". www.txtreport.com. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
26. . Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
27. "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
28. . Archived from the original on August 22, 2014.
29. "Новини Управління Прес-служби МО". from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
30. Владислав Клочков (10 May 2018). Комбриг 93-ї ОМБр Владислав Клочков: "Ми ведемо посилену підготовку особового складу до наступальних, рейдових дій". Тиждень (in Ukrainian). from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
31. «Бригада, що робить з людини Воїна». 93 омбр представила гімн і відцуралася від спадку СРСР. ВІДЕО 2018-12-18 at the Wayback Machine // «Новинарня», 13 грудня 2018
32. "93-я окрема механізована бригада ЗС України отримає почесне ім'я "Холодний Яр"". Ukrainian Military Pages. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
33. "93-тя окрема механізована бригада ЗСУ отримає почесне найменування "Холодний Яр"". Прочерк. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
34. ""Холодний Яр": почесна назва 93 бригади". Український мілітарний портал. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
35. "93-тя бригада ЗСУ отримає почесне найменування "Холодний Яр", нові нарукавні знаки та бойове знамено". ТСН. 2018-01-22. from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
36. "Влад Сорд, ветеран 93 бригади: Про власне видавництво містичної літератури". www.armyfm.com.ua. from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
37. "Королівська піхота і танковий кулак: як змінюють символи армії України". BBC News. 2017-11-14. from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
38. "Почесні стяги поруч з бойовими. ССО і бригада короля Данила отримали "брендову" символіку". Новинарня. 2017-10-15. from the original on 2018-05-17. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
39. "Уперше в ЗСУ бригада отримала мотиваційний прапор". Новинарня. 2018-05-10. from the original on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
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41. . Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
42. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 22 серпня 2018 year № 232/2018 «Про присвоєння почесних найменувань військовим частинам Збройних Сил України та уточнення деяких найменувань» 2018-08-24 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
43. "Президент України підписав Указ «Про присвоєння почесних найменувань військовим частинам Збройних Сил України та уточнення деяких найменувань» // Міністерство оборони України, офіційний вебсайт, 24 серпня 2018". from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
44. 93-тя бригада отримала новий бойовий прапор 2019-02-26 at the Wayback Machine // «0569.com.ua — Сайт міста Новомосковська», 26 серпня 2018
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46. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №315/2022 Про відзначення почесною відзнакою "За мужність та відвагу"". from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-08-03.