Raid of the 95th Brigade

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Raid of the 95th Brigade
Part of the
War in Donbas

Military situation as of 5 August 2014
Date19 July — 10 August 2014
(3 weeks and 1 day)
Location
Luhansk Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Donbas, Ukraine
Result Ukrainian victory
Belligerents
 Ukraine  Russia
 Luhansk People's Republic
 Donetsk People's Republic
Commanders and leaders
Ukraine Mykhailo Zabrodsky Unknown
Units involved

95th Airmobile Brigade

Reinforcements:
25th Airmobile Brigade
30th Mechanized Brigade
51st Mechanized Brigade
Separatists
Casualties and losses
13 paratroopers killed
74 wounded
60% of equipment lost[1]		 3 checkpoints destroyed
Unknown killed and wounded

From July 19 to August 10, 2014, during the

Russian Army
.

Planning

In June 2014, Ukraine's leadership developed a strategic plan that foresaw the

Mius River, and to relieve the units of the 24th, 72nd Mechanized, and 79th Air Assault Brigades.[4]

The main strike of the operation consisted of 400 paratroopers of the 95th Air Assault Brigade and multiple tanks[quantify] of the 30th Mechanized Brigade. All who took part in the operation were volunteers.[5][4]

Battles

Battle for Lysychansk

The first battles in the raid began for the recapture of

95th Airmobile Brigade units were to conduct raids and go to the southern outskirts of the city and from there start eliminating enemy units while the 24th Brigade advanced from the north. In tandem with 95th brigade's northward push, forces from the Donbas Battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine assisted in removing Russian units on the way to the city center.[6]

Two days before the assault of Lysychansk, scouts were sent to identify the reference points of militants. On the reconnaissance mission, the scouts discovered a block post, which wasn't previously known.[7]

On July 19, units of the 95th brigade went on the offensive, destroying the block post and advancing on a strategically important height. The initial attempt to seize the height was unsuccessful; however, during a new battle which lasted a few hours, the height was abandoned by pro-Russian forces.[7][8]

Following the strategic height's capture by the 95th brigade, paratroopers took control of a nearby oil refinery that risked destruction from pro-Russian forces.[9] The full battle lasted from midday until the evening on July 19. Amongst Ukrainian forces, five paratroopers were reported killed while an additional 40 were injured.[10] The advance of Ukrainian forces resulted in celebrations amongst locals, with one soldier who fought with the 95th brigade later relating:

That was the greatest joy for all the time of my service. When local saw that armoured personnel carriers with Ukrainian symbols, they ran to salute us. On the way the local people unfolded blue-yellow flags and dressed up vyshyvankas. They were standing along the road clapping, singing the Ukrainian hymn and shouting "Glory to Ukraine!", "Thank you for coming!". — Vasyl Bodnar, soldier of the 95th brigade.[11]

Results

According to Ukrainian government reports, the paratroopers ultimately successfully carried out a 470-kilometer raid on the rear of the separatists while also destroying three hostile checkpoints.[12] However, the most important achievement was the creation of an evacuation corridor allowing units trapped at the border to retreat. As a result of the raid, 3,000 Ukrainian forces and more than 250 pieces of equipment were able to be evacuated safely.[13]

Significance

The raid is noteworthy because of its length and the fact that it was the first time Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed in the

war in Donbas. According to Dr. Phillip Karber, president of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and military expert,[14] it was one of the longest armored raids in military history.[15]

The raid also significantly boosted the morale of

Ukrainian forces, especially the Air Assault forces who had spearheaded much of the campaign. The 95th Air Assault Brigade was particularly praised by Dr. Karber for their skill and conduct during the raid.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ ШПАК, Віктор (21 May 2015). "Нова доба Карачун-гори і Савур-могили".
  2. ^ "Cyborgs at Little Stalingrad: A Brief History of the Battles of the Donetsk Airport, 26 May 2014 to 21 January 2015". AUSA. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
  3. ^ "Серпень 2014–го. Іловайськ. Частина І. Невиправдні сподівання на перемогу". tyzhden.ua. 23 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Крилата піхота української армії". espreso.tv.
  5. ^ "400 ВІДЧАЙДУХІВ – Народна армія". Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  6. ^ "400 ВІДЧАЙДУХІВ – Народна армія". 2016-06-30. Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  7. ^ a b "Історії з війни. Бійці 95 аеромобільної бригади про життя в АТО". Репортер (in Ukrainian). 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  8. ^ ""ГОТОВИЙ СЛУЖИТИ БУДЬ-ДЕ, АЛЕ З ЕМБЛЕМАМИ ВДВ" – Народна армія". 2017-08-04. Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  9. ^ ШПАК, Віктор (2015-05-21). "Нова доба Карачун-гори і Савур-могили". Урядовий Кур’єр. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  10. ^ "Сумы попрощались с десантником". Ваш шанс. Новости. События. Происшествия. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  11. ^ "Надвірнянський Бабай просить жінок не ховати чоловіків під спідницями". Курс. 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  12. ^ "Прес-центр штабу АТО". www.facebook.com.
  13. ^ "Аналіз ведення антитерористичної операції та наслідків вторгнення Російської Федерації в Україну у серпні-вересні 2014 року" [Analysis of the conduct of the anti-terrorist operation and the consequences of the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine in August-September 2014] (PDF) (in Russian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-08-24.
  14. ^ "CBC Radio's The House: Can Ukraine hold on?". CBC.ca. August 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "21st Century Maneuver | Marine Corps Association". www.mca-marines.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  16. ^ "Якщо Україна відступить, ви програєте". 19 November 2014.

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