6th Tank Brigade (Russia)

The 6th Separate Tank Brigade is a formation of the Russian Ground Forces.[1] In 2014–2015 the brigade fought in the War in Donbass.[2]

6th Separate Tank Brigade (2009–present) 100th Tank Regiment (1945–2009) 100th Tank Brigade (1942–1945)
Russian: 6-я отдельная танковая Ченстоховская Краснознаменная ордена Кутузова II степени бригада
Great emblem of the 6th Tank Brigade
Active	1942–present
Country	Soviet Union  Russia
Branch	Russian Ground Forces
Type	Armoured Forces
Size	Brigade
Part of	1st Guards Tank Army
Garrison/HQ	Mulino MUN 54096
Engagements	World War II Operation Danube War in Donbass • Battle of Ilovaisk • Battle of Debaltseve
Decorations	Order of the Red Banner  Order of Kutuzov
Battle honours	Czestochowa

History

The brigade was formed in June 2009 as part of the 20th Guards Army in Mulino from the 100th Tank Regiment. The 100th Tank Regiment was originally formed as the 100th Tank Brigade in 1942. For its actions during World War II, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Kutuzov 2nd class, and the honorific "Czestochowa".[1] In 1945 the brigade, part of the 31st Tank Corps, became the 100th Tank Regiment as part of a reorganization of the Soviet Tank Troops. At the same time the corps became the 31st Tank Division. The regiment was based in Khmelnitsky. The regiment fought in Operation Danube, the suppression of the Prague Spring. After the end of the operation the regiment stayed in Czechoslovakia with the division and was based at Frenštát pod Radhoštěm.[3] In early 1990 the regiment withdrew to Dzerzhinsk.[1]

In August 2014 the brigade's units fought in the Battle of Ilovaisk.[4][5] On 26 August, during a fight near Ahronomichne village, a T-72B3 tank of the 1st Company of the brigade's 3rd Battalion was captured by troops of the Ukrainian 51st Mechanized Brigade.[6] During the Ukrainian forces' withdrawal from Ilovaisk on 29 August, Donbas Battalion fighters were able to seize and destroy another two brigade T-72B3 tanks near Chervonosilske village,[7][8] capturing two prisoners: Ivan Badanin and Eugen Chernov,[5] as well as some paratroopers of the 31st Air Assault Brigade.[9]

In November 2014 the brigade became part of the 1st Guards Tank Army.[10] In February 2015 the brigade's units fought in Battle of Debaltseve.[11]

References

1. "Войсковая часть 54096 (6 отбр) поселок Мулино". voinskayachast.net. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
2. Sutyagin, Igor (March 2015). "RUSI Briefing Paper: Russian Forces in Ukraine" (PDF). Royal United Services Institute: 3. Retrieved 6 April 2016. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
3. Holm, Michael. "31st Tank Division". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
4. "Russia's 6th Tank Brigade: The Dead, the Captured, and the Destroyed Tanks (Pt. 1) – bellingcat". 22 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
5. "Russia's 6th Tank Brigade: The Dead, the Captured, and the Destroyed Tanks (Pt. 2) – bellingcat". 29 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
6. Цензор.НЕТ. "ПОЛКОВНИК КОВАЛЬСКИЙ: "РОССИЙСКИЙ Т-72Б3 МЫ ЗАХВАТИЛИ НЕОЖИДАННО ДЛЯ САМИХ СЕБЯ - ДЛЯ БОЛЬШИНСТВА ЭТО БЫЛ ПЕРВЫЙ БОЙ"". Цензор.НЕТ (in Russian). Retrieved 31 October 2016.
7. Elena Finogina (7 July 2015), "Donbas" Battalion had hit Russian T72 tank in Chervonosilske village 29.08.2014, retrieved 31 October 2016
8. Tatyana Zarovnaja (29 October 2014), Captured by Ukrainians Russian tank, retrieved 31 October 2016
9. "Internet Users Have Identified Russian Soldiers Captured Near Ilovaisk - InformNapalm.org (English)". InformNapalm.org (English). 27 March 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
10. "Россия негласно создала гвардейскую танковую армию" [Russia secretly created Guards Tank Army]. BBC (in Russian). 2 June 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
11. "Министр обороны РФ наградил солдат часами за Дебальцево — Conflict Intelligence Team". citeam.org. Retrieved 18 August 2016.