| 22nd Mechanized Brigade (2000–2003, 2023-present) 66th Mechanized Division (1992–2000) 110th Guards Separate Training Center (1987–1992) 66th Guards Training Motor Rifle Division (1960–1987) 66th Guards Motor Rifle Division (1957–1960) 66th Guards Rifle Division (1943–1957) 293rd Rifle Division (1941–1943) | |
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Sleeve Patch of the 22nd Brigade
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| Active | 18 July 1941 – 2003[1]
2023 - present[2] |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type | Mechanized |
| Size | 2000[2] |
| Part of | Operational Command West |
| Garrison/HQ | Chernivtsi, Chernivtsi Oblast |
| Motto(s) | We pacify predators with a sword (Ukrainian: Хижих мечем мирим) |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Decorations |  Order of the Red Banner (removed) |
| Battle honours |
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| Website | https://www.facebook.com/22ombr |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Major General Pavel Lagutin (1st Commander) |
| Insignia | |
| Old sleeve patch of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade (Pre February 2023) |  |
The 22nd Mechanized Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It traces its origins to the 66th Guards Rifle Division, originally a formation of the Red Army and later of the Soviet Ground Forces.
The unit became the 22nd Mechanized Brigade in 2000 and was disbanded in 2003, before being reactivated in 2023 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By Order of the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR № 034 from January 21, 1943, the 293rd Rifle Division was reorganized into the 66th Guards Rifle Division. Major General Akim Yakshin became Division's new commander after Pavel Lagutin was promoted to Executive officer of the 21st Army. On February 7, 1943, most of the Divisions units were renamed.
On March 17, 1943, the 66th was assigned to 6th Guards Rifle Corps, 1st Guards Army, Southwestern Front,[4] from May 5, 1943, the 66th was assigned to 5th Guards Army Steppe Military District. From May 9, 1943, the 66th was with 32nd Guards Rifle Corps 5th Guards Army.[4] During Battle of Kursk and Lower Dnepr strategic offensive operation the 66th was with 33rd Guards Rifle Corps 5th Guards Army, later she was again assigned to 32nd Guards Corps. On September 23, 1943, the 66th was awarded with the honorable name "Poltava" by Supreme Commander. By the end of October the 66th was with 53rd Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front. On November 28, 1943, Major General Sergey Frolov became new Divisions commander, he would remain there until the end of the war. On November 30, 1943, the 66th was with 20th Guards Rifle Corps 4th Guards Army.[4] On January 3, 1944 66th was assigned to 48th Rifle Corps 53rd Army. While taking part in Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Offensive Operation, 66th was with 75th Rifle Corps, later she was assigned to 26th Guards Rifle Corps.
On March 1, 1943, 66th was with 69th Army reserve of Stavka[4] near Shpola Cherkasy Oblast. On April 11, 1944 Division was relocated by rail to Zaporizhia with 1st Ukrainian Front. During Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive 66th was with 95th Rifle Corps 18th Army 1st Ukrainian Front.[4] During the East Carpathian Strategic Offensive Operation (the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive) the division was assigned to 18th Guards Rifle Corps 18th Army 4th Ukrainian Front.[4] From September 16, 1944, Division also took part in Carpathian-Uzhgorod Offensive.
On November 14, 1944, 66th with 18th Guards Rifle Corps was assigned to 2nd Ukrainian Front where she took part in Battle of Budapest. On January 23, 1943 66th was with 104th Rifle Corps 4th Guards Army 3rd Ukrainian Front[4] and took part in Balaton Defensive Operation. On April 5, 1945, the Division was awarded Order of the Red BannerbySupreme Soviet of the USSR. From April 15, 1945 66th was with 21st Guards Rifle Corps 4th Guards Army and took part in Vienna Offensive. Division finished combat operations in Austria on May 8, 1945
After Victory Day 66th with 27th Army from June 3 to August 23, 1945, was relocating to Ukraine into Carpathian Military District. First base was in Haisyn Vinnytsia Oblast. From October 1946 Division was assigned to 38th ArmyinChernivtsi.[5][6] Division took part in Hungarian Revolution of 1956. On June 15, 1957 66th Guards Rifle Division became 66th Guards Motor Rifle Division.
On September 15, 1960, 66th became 66th Guards Training Motor Rifle Division.[7] In 1987, 66th Guards Training Motor Rifle Division became 110th Guards Separate Training Center for junior specialists of motor rifle troops of the Carpathian Military District.[6]
The Training Center became under Ukrainian control after Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union.[8] On January 19, 1992, the Training Center along with all other units stationed in Ukraine, pledged their allegiance to Ukrainian people. In May 1992, the 110th Guards Districts Training Center was disbanded by the directive of the Ministry of Defense. On September 1, 1992, a new 66th Mechanized Division started forming on the basis of units from the disbanded Training Center.
A few units from the 17th Guards Motor Rifle Division were added to the Division, when the 17th was reduced to a Brigade. Division was a part of the 38th Army Corps (former 38th Army) Western Operational Command. On October 26, 1999, President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma awarded the Division with Bukovina title.[9] On October 30, 2000, all of the honorifics which the Division earned throughout her history were restored. Name of the Division became 66th Guards Bukovina, Poltava Red Banner Mechanized Division. Soon after, the Division was reformed into the 22nd Mechanized Brigade, all of the Divisions regalia was lost. During 2003 only 300th Mechanized Regiment remained, the rest of the units of the Brigade were disbanded.[1]
In early 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Brigade was reactivated and was armed with ex-Soviet weaponry, such as BMP-1 fighting vehicles, BM-21 rocket-launchers, 2S1 and 2S3 howitzers, and ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns. In addition, it received modernized T-72 tanks, including T-72AMT, T-72 Ural, and the Polish-supplied PT-91 Twardy, as well as American-supplied HMMWV vehicles.[2][10] In June 2023, some units of the Brigade were seen taking part in the battle of Bakhmut.[11]
200th Mechanized Regiment (Chernivtsi)
300th Mechanized Regiment (Chernivtsi)
301st Mechanized Regiment (Chernivtsi)
201st Armored Regiment (Storozhynets)
50th Separate Engineer Battalion (village Ruda, Khmelnytskyi Oblast)
28th Separate Signal Battalion (Chernivtsi)
70th Separate Maintenance Battalion (Storozhynets)
180th Separate Combat Service Support Battalion (Chernivtsi)
50th Separate Medical Battalion (Chernivtsi)
26th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion (Chernivtsi)
15th Separate Chemical Battalion (Chernivtsi)
245th Separate Anti-Tank Battalion (Chernivtsi)
93rd Artillery Regiment
300th Anti-Aircraft Regiment
40th Separate Electronic Warfare Company 300th Mechanized Regiment (Chernivtsi) 201st Armored Regiment (Storozhynets)
2206th Separate Brigade Artillery Group (Chernivtsi) 26th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion (Chernivtsi) 28th Separate Signal Battalion (Chernivtsi) 50th Separate Engineer Battalion (village Ruda, Khmelnytskyi Oblast) 180th Separate Combat Service Support Battalion (Chernivtsi) 70th Separate Maintenance Battalion (Storozhynets)| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Order of the Red Banner | April 5, 1945 | Awarded by Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Removed after Brigade's dissolution. |
| Image | Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Guards unit | January 21, 1943 | Awarded by the order People's Commissariat of Defence of the USSR № 034.[17] Removed after Brigade's dissolution. |
| Poltava | September 23, 1943 | Awarded by Supreme Commander. Removed after Brigade's dissolution. | |
| Bukovina | October 26, 1999 | Awarded by President of Ukraine.[9] Removed after Brigade's dissolution. |
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1Unless stated otherwise, the brigade is mechanized. | |||||||
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