15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade (Ukraine)
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade "Black Forest" (MUN A1108) is an artillery and reconnaissance Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces directly subordinated to the Ground Forces command but is currently operationally subordinated to the Operational Command West. It operates a variety of artillery and drone systems including western, indigenous and Soviet era weapons.
Soviet Union (1942â1991)
Ukraine (since 1992)
Armed Forces of Ukraine
Ukrainian Ground Forces| 15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade
15th Rocket Artillery Regiment (2003-2022) 337th Rocket Artillery Brigade (1989-2003) | |
|---|---|
| 15-Ñа окÑема бÑигада аÑÑилеÑÑйÑÑÐºÐ¾Ñ ÑозвÑдки «ЧоÑний лÑÑ» | |
| |
| Founded | 6 August 1942 |
| Country | Soviet Union (1942â1991) Ukraine (since 1992) |
| Allegiance | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Branch | Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type |  Rocket and Artillery Forces |
| Role | Artillery and Reconnaissance |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of |  Operational Command West |
| Garrison/HQ | Drogobych, Lviv Oblast |
| Nickname | Black Forest |
| Mottos | "Lightning Fast and Accurate" |
| Colours |  |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations | .svg){kind=small} For Courage and Bravery |
| Website | Website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Alexander Popov |
| Insignia | |
| Former Insignia | .png)  |
History
On 24 August 1991, the 337th Rocket Artillery Brigade of the Red Army was subordinated to Ukraine following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and took the oath of allegiance to Ukraine on 12 December 1991. In 1998, the first rocket artillery division "Smerch" of the 337th rocket artillery brigade carried out combat launches at the Chauda military training ground.
On 20 August 2003, it became 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment and was recognized as the best unit of the Operational Command West. In 2008, the 1st Rocket Artillery Division of the 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment performed live fire training at the Chauda military training ground. On 4 May 2006, the regiment was awarded a Battle Banner. On 21 August 2008, it received the honorary title of "Drohobych".[1] In June 2012, the regiment's personnel took part in the 20th review-competition for the best organization of physical training and sports in the Armed Forces of Ukraine performing in over a hundred categories and took the first spot.
Russo-Ukrainian war
Since April 2014, the 15th Guards Rocket Artillery Regiment has been involved in the War in Donbass.[2] On 26 August 2014, a soldier of the regiment, Komar Yuri Igorovich was killed as a result of a firearms attack on a travelling convoy near Heorhiivka, Luhansk Oblast.[3] On 18 November 2015, all Soviet awards and references were stripped from the regiment's title.[4] Two units of the AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar were transferred to the regiment on 17 August 2018.[5]
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it saw direct combat against Russian forces. On 7 July 2022, a soldier of the brigade, Bordun Ivan was killed by Russian artillery shelling shelling near Siversk during the Battle of Bakhmut.[6] In September 2022, it was participating in the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive.[7]
The recon elements of the Brigade have been observed using Shark drones to guide British Storm Shadow missiles into targets and was able to destroy a Russian platoon command post.[8]
On 4 December 2024 the unit was awarded the honorary award For Courage and Bravery by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[9]
On November 16, 2024, the unit attacked a concentration of Russian troops, approximately 30â40 men, near Tavria. The strike was carried out using M142 HIMARS missiles, and the troop concentration had been previously reconnoitered by a drone from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade. More than 20 Russian soldiers were reported killed. Shortly afterward, as additional troops arrived to evacuate the wounded, the brigade conducted a double tap strike using cluster munitions to maximize casualties.[10]
List of destroyed Systems
| Type | Role | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-300 S-350 S-400 9K37 Buk |
SAM | Around 30 Systems destroyed[11] | 2022â2023 |
| Leer-2 | EW | Destroyed, most likely by HIMARS[12][11] | 28 August 2023 |
| Predel-E | RADAR | ||
| 9K330 Tor | SAM | Destroyed[13] | 20 January 2024 |
| BM-21 | MLRS | Multiple BM-21 Destroyed in Luhansk Oblast[14] | January 2024 |
| Podlet-1K | RADAR | Spotted in cooperation with Kabul 9 and destroyed by WB-Electronics-Warmate[15] | 27 April 2024 |
| Supercam S350 | UAV | Destroyed with crew[16] | 4 July 2024 |
| 1K148 Yastreb-AW | RADAR | Destroyed by HIMARS[17] | 8 September 2024 |
| Zoopark-1M | RADAR | Destroyed by HIMARS or M270.[18] | 12 December 2024 |
| Pansir S-1 | SAM | Destroyed by HIMARS[19][20] | 31 December 2024 |
| 96L6E | RADAR | 96L6E RADAR of a S-300-Battery destroyed[21] | 27 January 2025 |
| S-350 | SAM | Destroyed[22] | 16 February 2025 |
| 9S36 | RADAR | 9S36 RADAR for Buk destroyed[23] | 12 March 2025 |
| Buk-M1 | SAM | Destroyed[24] | 21 March 2025 |
| R-330Zh Zhitel | EW | Damaged or destroyed[25] | 24 March 2025 |
| 9A316 | Rearm SAM |
9A316 rearming vehicle for Buk-2M destroyed by drone[26] | 6 April 2025 |
| BM-27 Uragan | MLRS | Destroyed with GMLRS via HIMARS[27] | 16 April 2025 |
| Buk-M2 9A316 |
SAM Rearm |
A launcher and a rearming vehicle destroyed[28] | 21 April 2025 |
| Buk-M3 | SAM | Destroyed[29] | 1 May 2025 |
| Buk-M1 | SAM | Destroyed[30] | 7 May 2025 |
| Buk-M1 | SAM | Destroyed[31] | 16 May 2025 |
| Buk-M3 | SAM | Destroyed[32] | 24 May 2025 |
| Tor-M2 | SAM | Destroyed by rocket double strike[33][34] | 31 May 2025 |
| Zoopark-1M | RADAR | Damaged or destroyed[35] | 4 June 2025 |
| 2S7 Pion | SPH | Destroyed[36] | 12 June 2025 |
| Buk-M1 | SAM | Destroyed by the 413th Regiment of Unmanned Systems, assisted by the 15th brigade[37] | 8 July 2025 |
| Buk-M3 | SAM | Damaged or destroyed by drone[38] | 13 July 2025 |
| D-30 | Howitzer | Destroyed[39] | 22 August 2025 |
| Buk-M2 | SAM | Destroyed[40] | 5 September 2025 |
| Buk-M2 | SAM | Destroyed[41] | 17 September 2025 |
| Buk-M3 | SAM | Destroyed[42][43] | 25 Oktober 2025 |
| Buk-M3 | SAM | Destroyed by drone[44] | 4 November 2025 |
| T-90 | Tank | Damaged or destroyed by drone[45] | 14 November 2025 |
| D-30 | Howitzer | ||
| S-400 | SAM | 2 Launchers of a S-400 System destroyed, most likely part of the 568th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment[46] | 14 December 2025 |
| Buk-M2 | SAM | Destroyed by drone[47] | 17. December 2025 |
| Torf-S | RADAR | Destroyed[48] | 14 January 2026 |
| D-30 | Howitzer | Gun and crew destroyed by cluster munition[49] | 6 February 2026 |
| Pantsir-S1 | SAM | Destroyed by drone[50] | 28 February 2026 |
| Osa | SAM | Damaged or destroyed by drone[51] | 19 March 2026 |
| Buk-M2 | SAM | Damaged or destroyed by drone[52] | 29 March 2026 |
| Zoopark-1M | RADAR | Destroyed by drone[53] | 5 April 2026 |
| S-300V | SAM | Launcher und command system of a S-300V destroyed by Lasar's Group assisted by air reconnaissance by the 15th brigade[54] | 10 April 2026 |
Equipment
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artillery | |||||
| BM-30 Smerch |  |
Soviet Union |
Heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher | 5+ | [55] |
| M142 HIMARS | .jpg) |
 United States |
Light multiple rocket launcher | [10] | |
| M270 MLRS |  |
United States |
Armored self-propelled multiple launch rocket system | [18] | |
| Armored vehicles | |||||
| BRDM-2 | _owned_by_James_Stewart_pic1.JPG) |
Soviet Union |
Amphibious armoured reconnaissance vehicle | ||
| RADARs | |||||
| AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar |  |
United States |
Counter battery mobile radar | 2 | [5] |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | |||||
| AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma |  |
United States |
Surveillance and intelligence electro-optical UAV | [8] | |
| DJI Mavic |  |
 China |
FPV drone | [56] | |
| DeViRo Leleka-100 ("Stork") |
 |
Ukraine |
Air reconnaissance/loitering munition | [56] | |
| Athlon Avia A1-CM Furia |  |
Ukraine |
Air reconnaissance | [56] | |
| ASU-1 Valkyrie |  |
Ukraine |
Air reconnaissance | [56] | |
| Ukrspecsystems Shark |  |
Ukraine |
Air reconnaissance | [56] | |
| Ukrspecsystems Mini Shark | Ukraine |
Air reconnaissance | [56] | ||
| Tekever AR3 |  Portugal |
Autonomous VTOL ISTAR craft | [57] | ||
Commanders
Popular culture
Until 2022, before becoming a brigade, the old sleeve insignia of the 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment depicted a shield with a dragon's head, surmounted by a small State Emblem of Ukraine, against a background of crossed cannon barrels. The dragon's head represents the power of missiles.[60]
In July 2022, singer Viktor Vynnyk wrote the brigade's march, and presented it in his performance on 11 September.[61]
See also
Weblinks
