5th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade named after A. V. Zakharchenko | |
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5-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада имени А. В. Захарченко | |
Unit patch | |
Active | 2014–present |
Country | Russia (2022–present) Previously: Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2022) |
Allegiance | Russia |
Branch | Russian Ground Forces (2022–present) DPR People's Militia (2014–2022) |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | 51st Combined Arms Army |
Garrison/HQ | Donetsk |
Patron | Alexander Zakharchenko |
Engagements | |
Decorations | Guards |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Unknown |
Insignia | |
Alternative sleeve patch | |
Flag (held by soldiers of the Brigade) |
The 5th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade named after A. V. Zakharchenko (Russian: 5-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада имени А. В. Захарченко, 5 омсбр; Military Unit Number 08805), also known as the Oplot Brigade (lit.Stronghold Brigade), is a military unit of Russian Ground Forces. Until January 1, 2023, it was part of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR). It is attached to the 51st Guards Combined Arms Army.
History
Prior to the war
Oplot is notable for having an organisational history that began even before the war in Ukraine. It originates from a public organisation of the same name founded in 2010 in Kharkiv by Evgeny Zhilin, a former officer of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The name of the organisation could possibly have come from the T-84 Oplot tank developed at the Malyshev Factory, where Evgeny's father worked. One of the goals of Oplot was the "prevention of glorification" of the UPA. Oplot also had a sports club with around 350 members, who often clashed with nationalistic parties such as Svoboda. During the Euromaidan revolution they became one of the most violent anti-maidan fighters.
War in Donbas
After an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in Kharkiv, most of Oplot members moved to Donetsk to support the emerging Donetsk People's Republic. They were among those who stormed the Donetsk city council building on 16 April 2014, where the leader of the Donetsk branch of Oplot and future leader of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, demanded a referendum.
By September, the unit was formally incorporated into the 1st Army Corps as the 5th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade "Oplot". The brigade was among the most heavily armed, largest and best equipped DPR brigades.
The brigade was headquartered in Donetsk and was deployed around the city and to the south of it in Dokuchaevsk, where positions atop large spoil heaps allowed them to dominate a long section of the contact line.
On 8 October 2018 the brigade was named after Zakharchenko after his assassination on 31 August.
Russian invasion of Ukraine
The brigade took part in the battle of Izium where they allegedly abused civilians during the occupation of the city. In January 2023, it became part of the Russian army under the 1st Donetsk Army Corps, which was later reformed into the 51st Combined Arms Army. The brigade was involved in the battle of Krasnohorivka.
The commander of the brigade, Russian major general Pavel Klimenko, was killed in Ukraine on 6 November 2024 by a kamikaze drone.
On 5 December 2024 the brigade was awarded the "Guards" status.
The unit was heavily involved in the battle of Kurakhove along with the 110th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade and received an official commendation from the Russian Minister of Defence for the capture of the city.
References
- ^ "Донецкий горсовет захватила харьковская группа "Оплот"" [Donetsk City Council seized by Kharkiv group Oplot]. BBC News Russian (in Russian). 2014-04-16. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
- ""Свободовца" Мирошниченко вызвали на бой без правил" ["Svobodovets" Miroshnichenko was called to a fight without rules]. TVi (in Russian). 2013-04-15. Archived from the original on 2014-01-24.
- ^ Crowther, Edward (2022). War in Ukraine: Volume 1: Armed Formations of the Donetsk People's Republic, 2014-2022. EuropeWar Series (1st ed.). Havertown: Helion & Company, Limited. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-1-80451-177-0.
- "Пятой отдельной мотострелковой бригаде Народной милиции ДНР присвоено имя Александра Захарченко" [The Fifth Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the People's Militia of the DNR was named after Alexander Zakharchenko]. dan-news.ru (in Russian). 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
- Hopkins, Nick; Wilson, Jamie; Harding, Luke (July 18, 2023). "Militia units commanded by Russia named in Izium abuse investigation" – via The Guardian.
- "Батальон "Оплот" | Война и санкции". sanctions.nazk.gov.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- Consolidated text: Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
- "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- Ольга Ившина (2024-11-07). "Восьмой российский генерал погиб в Украине. Его обвиняли в создании пыточного лагеря" [The eighth Russian general has been killed in Ukraine. He was accused of setting up a torture camp]. BBC (in Russian). BBC News Русская служба. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- Parfitt, Tom (2024-11-08). "Russian 'torture camp general' killed in Ukraine drone strike". The Times. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- "5-й отдельной мотострелковой бригаде имени А.В.Захарченко присвоено почётное наименование «гвардейская»" [The 5th separate motor rifle brigade named after A.V. Zakharchenko was awarded the honorary designation “Guards”]. Президент России (in Russian). 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- Stepanenko, Kateryna; Evans, Angelica; Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Gasparyan, Davit; Gibson, Olivia; Kagan, Fredrick W. (December 26, 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- "Министр обороны РФ Андрей Белоусов поздравил военнослужащих соединений, проявивших мужество и героизм при освобождении населенного пункта Курахово в ДНР" [Russian Minister of Defense Andrei Belousov congratulated the servicemen of the formations who showed courage and heroism during the liberation of the settlement of Kurakhovo in the DPR]. mil.ru (in Russian). 2025-01-06. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
Brigades of the Russian Ground Forces | |||||
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Motor rifle |
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Tank | |||||
Artillery |
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Anti-aircraft missile | |||||
Rocket | |||||
Engineer | |||||
NBC protection | |||||
Signal | |||||
Logistic Support |
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Reconnaissance | |||||
Other | |||||
Currently inactive units marked in italics. Guards units marked in bold. |