| 10th Mountain Assault Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада | |
 Shoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | October 1, 2015 - Today |
| Country |
 Ukraine |
| Branch |
 Ukraine Army |
| Type | Mechanized Infantry |
| Part of | Operational Command West |
| Garrison/HQ | Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast |
| Motto(s) | With a shield or on a shield! |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | N/A |
The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss" (Ukrainian: 10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада "Едельвейс") is a specialized unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, specifically trained for mountain warfare operations.[2] Based in Kolomyia and part of Operational Command West, the brigade has a history of defending their country in various conflicts, including the war in Donbas in 2016 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[3] During these conflicts, the brigade, defended Marinka, Popasna, Mariupol and Bakhmut.[4]
History[]
The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade was formed on 1 October 2015, in Kolomyia, as part of the Operational Command West. Its formation was driven by the need to protect Northern Bukovina from potential Romanian territorial claims and to prepare for any future conflict with Russia.[5] The brigade was composed of experienced soldiers and volunteers, including the 24th Separate Assault Battalion and the former Aidar Battalion.[6] Its first commander, Colonel Vasyl Zubanych, was a Hero of Ukraine and a former battalion commander in the 128th Mechanized Brigade.[7] To attract new recruits, the brigade offered a 25% pay increase to volunteers who joined the brigade on a contract basis.[8] The first group of recruits consisted of 1,000 volunteers.[9] In January 2016, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that the brigade was ready to begin its combat training.[10] The brigade was stationed at Bila Tserkva and later relocated to Kolomyia once new barracks were completed.[8] In February 2016, the Ukrainian Ground Forces decided to form a new Bukovina mountain battalion in Chernivtsi, and the 8th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion and the 46th Separate Special-Purpose Battalion "Donbas-Ukraine" were added to the brigade's roster.[11] The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade thus became a formidable unit, consisting of a few thousand soldiers.[9] The Brigade played a crucial role in the war in Donbas, serving from 25 May to November 2016.[9] The brigade was deployed to defend key areas around Marinka, Krasnohorivka, Taramchuk, Stepne, and Solodke, where it faced relentless attacks from separatist and Russian artillery, mortars, and tanks.[12] Despite the challenges, the brigade held its ground, successfully defending against repeated assaults from enemy forces.[13]
On 24 August 2016, the Independence Day of Ukraine, the brigade was presented with its battle flag by President Petro Poroshenko, recognizing their bravery and dedication in defending their country.[14] During its tour in the Donbas war, the brigade lost 22 which were killed in action before the end of the deployment.[15] After completing its tour in the Donbas, the brigade returned to Kolomyia in November.[16] The 24th Assault and 46th Separate Special Purpose Battalions were withdrawn from the brigade due to the desire to station them closer to their homes, as 80% of their personnel were from western Ukraine.[16] The Brigade, underwent further reorganization after its first deployment to the war in Donbas from May to November 2016.[11] In December 2016, the 109th and 108th Separate Mountain Assault Battalions were established to replace the previously withdrawn 24th Assault and 46th Separate Special Purpose Battalions.[17] The brigade resumed its mountain training, including a climb to Veliky Verkh and to the summit of Hoverla, the tallest peak in Ukraine, to honor the Ukrainian casualties of the Battle of Debaltseve.[7] In September 2017, the brigade was deployed again to the Donbas to defend positions around Popasna, with a soldier being killed in action on 23 September during fighting at Novooleksandrivka.[17]
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade is reported to have taken part in the defense of the country and engaged in battles around Mariupol in February 2022 and Bakhmut in December 2022.[18]
On 14 February 2023, the brigade was granted the Edelweiss honorific by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in honor of its mountain troops traditions.[19]
Structure[]
As of 2023, the brigade's structure is as follows:[20]
- 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
- Brigade Headquarters and HQ Company
- 8th Mountain Battalion
- 108th Mountain Battalion
- 109th Mountain Battalion
- Tank Battalion
- 10th Mountain Artillery Group
- Regimental HQ and Target Acquisition Battery
- 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion (Towed)
- 2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion (Self-Propelled)
- Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
- Reconnaissance battalion
- Engineer Battalion
- Logistic Battalion
- Maintenance Battalion
- Signal Company
- Radar Company
- Medical Company
- CBRN Protection Company
See also[]
- Andrii Skibin
References[]
- ↑ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-reports-more-advances-south-battles-rage-east-2023-07-24/
- ↑ "The 10th Mountain Assault Brigade neutralized three dozen Russian invaders" (in en-US). https://mil.in.ua/en/news/the-10th-mountain-assault-brigade-neutralized-three-dozen-russian-invaders/.
- ↑ "Ukrainian mountain assault battalion shows destruction, capture of Russian invaders" (in en). https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3641037-ukrainian-mountain-assault-battalion-shows-destruction-capture-of-russian-invaders.html.
- ↑ "Volodymyr Zelensky: The situation in Donbas is difficult; I thank our guys who hold their positions firmly and find opportunities to "subtract" the occupiers" (in en-US). 2022-12-26. https://odessa-journal.com/volodymyr-zelensky-the-situation-in-donbas-is-difficult-i-thank-our-guys-who-hold-their-positions-firmly-and-find-opportunities-to-subtract-the-occupiers/.
- ↑ "10 гірсько-штурмова бригада поповниться легендарним підрозділом, "Айдар" базуватиметься у Коломиї" (in uk). http://10brygada.com.ua/news/10-girsko-shturmova-brigada-popovnitsya-legendarnim-pidrozdilom-aydar-bazuvatimetsya-u-kolomiyi.
- ↑ "Ukrainian Military Pages: В ЗСУ формують 10-ту гірсько-штурмову бригаду" (in uk). 22 September 2015. http://www.ukrmilitary.com/2015/09/formuvannja-10gpbr.html.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "У складі ЗСУ сформували нову гірсько-штурмову бригаду, - Міноборони" (in uk). Den. https://day.kyiv.ua/news/271221-u-skladi-zsu-sformuvaly-novu-hirsko-shturmovu-bryhadu-minoborony.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "На Прикарпатті створять нову гірську штурмову бригаду - Народна армія" (in uk). Narodna armiya. 22 September 2015. http://na.mil.gov.ua/24445-na-prikarpatti-stvoryat-novu-girsku-shturmovu-brigadu.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "10-та окрема гірсько-штурмова бригада повертається з передової у Коломию. ФОТО" (in uk). 3 November 2016. http://vikna.if.ua/news/category/if/2016/11/03/63124/view.
- ↑ "У Чернівецькій області створять окремий гірсько-штурмовий батальйон" (in uk). 15 February 2016. http://vidido.ua/index.php/pogliad/article/u_chernivec_kii_oblast_stvorjat_okremii_girs_ko-shturmovii_batal_ion/.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Гірські піхотинці 10 огшбр "Едельвейс" взяли найвищу вершину України — Говерлу" (in uk). Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 23 February 2017. http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2017/02/23/girski-pihotinczi-10-ogshbr-edelvejs-vzyali-najvishhu-vershinu-ukraini-goverlu/.
- ↑ Ragutskaya, Liliya (14 October 2017). "У мене в РФ рідня, але я росіян сюди не кликав: як воює на Донбасі наймолодша бригада ЗСУ" (in uk). Apostrof. https://apostrophe.ua/ua/article/society/accidents/2017-10-14/u-menya-v-rf-rodnya-no-ya-rossiyan-syuda-ne-zval-kak-voyuet-na-donbasse-samaya-molodaya-brigada-vsu/14960.
- ↑ "НАЙМОЛОДША В ЗСУ: ЯК 10-ТА ШТУРМОВА БРИГАДА СВЯТКУВАЛА РІЧНИЦЮ – СЮЖЕТ" (in uk). 5 Kanal. 1 October 2017. https://www.5.ua/regiony/naimolodsha-v-zsu-yak-10ta-shturmova-bryhada-sviatkuvala-svoiu-pershu-richnytsiu-siuzhet-156308.html.
- ↑ Goncharova, Olena (6 October 2017). "Russia's war against Ukraine has killed at least 2,752 soldiers". Kyiv Post. https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/russias-war-ukraine-killed-least-2752-soldiers.html.
- ↑ Miller, Christopher (10 August 2016). "Guns Of August: Fears Of Full-Scale War Return As Casualties Mount In Ukraine". Radio Free Europe. http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-fears-of-full-scale-war-as-casualties-mount/27910909.html.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "У Коломиї створили нову 10 гірсько-штурмову бригаду" (in uk). 21 September 2015. http://10brygada.com.ua/news/u-kolomiyi-stvorili-novu-10-girsko-shturmovu-brigadu.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Russian invasion update: Ukraine repels tank attack, captures six Russians in Mariupol". Ukrinform. 27 February 2022. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3414859-russian-invasion-update-ukraine-repels-tank-attack-captures-six-russians-in-mariupol.html.
- ↑ Tetiana Pushnova (24 December 2022). "The war overwhelmed everything: how Andriy Lyubka threw literature and sat on the "needle of volunteering"". https://life.pravda.com.ua/culture/2022/12/24/252008/.
- ↑ Zelenskyy awards special honourable title to the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade. Ukrainska Pravda (14 February 2023)
- ↑ "Ukraine Downs Another Russian Warplane | MENAFN.COM". https://menafn.com/1105806387/Ukraine-Downs-Another-Russian-Warplane.
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