155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade

Russian Naval Infantry brigade yes December 2024 155th Separate Guards Kursk Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov Naval Infantry Brigade named after twice Hero of the Russian Federation Major General M.E. Gudkov 155-я отдельная гвардейская Курская орденов Жукова и Суворова бригада морской пехоты имени дважды Героя Российской Федерации генерал-майора М.Е.Гудкова Sleeve patch of the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade.svg December 1, 2009 – December 1, 2025 Russia Naval infantry and Naval special forces Brigade Great emblem of the Pacific Fleet.svg Pacific Fleet Kursk Mikhail Gudkov 200px Former sleeve patch Mikhail Gudkov Black black Color of Beret Vladivostok, Slavyanka (Primorsky Krai) Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present) 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Northern Ukraine campaign Eastern Ukraine campaign Battle of Vuhledar Kursk campaign The 155th Separate Guards Kursk Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov Naval Infantry Brigade named after twice Hero of the Russian Federation Major General M.E. Gudkov (ru 155-я отдельная гвардейская Курская орденов Жукова и Суворова бригада морской пехоты имени дважды Героя Российской Федерации генерал-майора М.Е.Гудкова) was a brigade-sized formation of the Russian Naval Infantry. It is located in the city of Vladivostok and the village of Slavyanka, Primorsky Krai.Tsurkan Rostislav February 13, 2023 Під Вугледаром ЗСУ знищили 155-ту бригаду морської піхоти з Владивостока The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the 155th brigade of marines from Vladivostok near Vuhledar https://podrobnosti.ua/2467077-pd-vugledarom-zsu-znischili-155-tu-brigadu-morsko-photi-z-vladivostoka-politico.html February 28, 2023 Podrobytsi It was part of the Pacific Fleet. In Western sources the title is sometimes translated as "Marines." On December 1, 2025, the brigade was reformed into the 55th Guards Naval Infantry Division,https://ria.ru/20251201/brigada-2058824686.html Бригаду ТОФ переформировали в 55-ю гвардейскую дивизию морской пехоты 2025-12-01 2025-12-01 RIA Novosti The Pacific Fleet brigade was reformed into the 55th Guards Naval Infantry Division though some assessments suggested that the division would likely not be "fully staffed" until the current war with Ukraine was concluded.https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-1-2025/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 1, 2025 Institute for the Study of War 1 December 2025 2 December 2025 Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade has taken part in the Russo-Ukrainian War, where it has fought near Kyiv,Rudomskyi Ruslan May 24, 2022 90% від складу полку: окупанти з елітної Таманської дивізії масово пишуть рапорти на звільнення – розвідка "90% of the regiment's composition": occupiers from the elite Taman division en masse write reports for dismissal - intelligence https://war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/90-vid-skladu-polku-okupanti-z-elitnoi-tamanskoi-divizii-masovo-pishut-raporti-na-zvilnennya-rozvidka.htm February 28, 2023 Obozrevatel uk-UA Pavlivka, Avdiivka, and Vuhledar. During its deployment to Ukraine, the unit has suffered heavy losses, with the Institute for the Study of War reporting that the brigade had been destroyed and reconstituted eight times by March 2023. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 24, 2023 Institute for the Study of War March 24, 2023 https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24-2023 October 16, 2024Bickerton James Russian brigade destroyed and reconstituted up to 8 times after losses: ISW Newsweek March 25, 2023 https://www.newsweek.com/russian-brigade-destroyed-reconstituted-8-times-after-losses-isw-1790307 November 20, 2024Baker Sinéad How an elite brigade of Russian marines was repeatedly mauled in Ukraine and became an emblem of the invasion's failures Business Insider March 27, 2023 https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-155th-brigade-destroyed-ukraine-poor-reinforcements-vuhledar-bucha-pavlika-2023-3 November 21, 2024 The unit has been accused of numerous war crimes in Ukraine, including beheading Ukrainian soldiers and executing prisoners of war.Axe David Days After Russian Marines Murdered Nine Ukrainian Prisoners, Ukrainian Paratroopers Are Looking For Revenge—And Finding It Forbes October 14, 2024 https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/10/14/days-after-russian-marines-murdered-nine-ukrainian-prisoners-ukrainian-paratroopers-are-looking-for-revenge-and-finding-it/ October 15, 2024 History The 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade was created on December 1, 2009, by reorganizing the 55th Naval Infantry Division, which was created in 1968.Nandy Sumana March 28, 2022 'Guards' title for Russia's two naval brigades for protecting Fatherland https://www.indiatoday.in/world/russia-ukraine-war/story/guards-title-for-russia-two-naval-brigades-for-protecting-fatherland-1930555-2022-03-28 February 28, 2023 India Today en Involvement in Syria During the Russian intervention in Syria, the 155th brigade provided support and cover to the PKS aviation group as part of the Permanent Operational Unit of the Russian Navy.November 30, 2018 Фонд "ОФИЦЕРСКОЕ БРАТСТВО" поздравил личный состав и ветеранов 55-й дивизии — ныне 155-й отдельной бригады морской пехоты Тихоокеанского флота с 50-летием со Дня образования The Officer Brotherhood Foundation congratulated the personnel and veterans of the 55th Division - now the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet on the 50th anniversary of its formation https://www.fondob.ru/posts/3762387 February 28, 2023 fondob.ru Russo-Ukrainian War Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade took part in the Russo-Ukrainian War.Axe David November 7, 2022 Russian Marines Are Getting Killed And Wounded By The Hundreds In Ukraine https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/07/russian-marines-are-getting-killed-and-wounded-by-the-hundreds-in-ukraine/ February 28, 2023 Forbes en On March 13, in a written post on Facebook, Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsymbalyuk reported that units of the 155th Separate Marine Brigade had suffered losses consisting of "about 600 servicemen killed and as many wounded" in the Chernihiv region.Korogodskyi Yuriy March 13, 2022 ЗСУ майже повністю знищили бригаду морської піхоти росіян, The Armed Forces almost completely destroyed the Russian marine brigade, https://lb.ua/society/2022/03/13/509335_zsu_mayzhe_povnistyu_znishchili_brigadu.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20220313162938/https://lb.ua/society/2022/03/13/509335_zsu_mayzhe_povnistyu_znishchili_brigadu.html March 13, 2022 February 28, 2023 LB.ua On March 19, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that separate units of the 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade and the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) were transferred to the territory of Belarus to replace the losses of the Eastern Military District.March 19, 2022 У білорусь перекинули війська з іншого кінця росії, аби поповнити втрати Troops from the other side of Russia were transferred to Belarus to replenish losses https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3434206-u-bilorus-perekinuli-vijska-z-insogo-kinca-rosii-abi-popovniti-vtrati.html February 28, 2023 Ukrinform uk On March 28, President Putin assigned the brigade the rank of guards, at the same time as the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade.Sokirko Viktor March 28, 2022 Спецоперация на Украине рождает новую российскую гвардию Special operation in Ukraine gives rise to a new Russian guard https://vz.ru/society/2022/3/28/1150869.html February 28, 2023 Vzglyad ru In early November 2022, there were reports of heavy losses in the brigade in battles in the Pavlivka area near Vuhledar in the Donetsk region.December 26, 2022 "Нам уже ніколи не буде соромно". Десять знакових перемог України за рік великої війни з РФ "We will never be ashamed." Ten significant victories of Ukraine during the year of the great war with the Russian Federation https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/viyna-v-ukrajini-10-naybilshih-peremog-ukrajini-za-rik-shcho-minuv-z-24-lyutogo-2022-50306472.html February 28, 2023 nv.ua On November 3, marines of the 155th brigade posted a letter to the Telegram channel of Russian governor Oleg Kozhemyako, describing how they were "thrown into an incomprehensible offensive by General Muradov" and disclose that "about 300 people were killed, wounded, or went missing in 4 days" as a result of the offensive."They Call Us Meat": BBC Eye investigation shows how glaring tactical mistakes cost elite Russian marines their lives in Ukraine despite repeated warnings https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/bbc-eye-russian-marines-ukraine January 2, 2024 www.bbc.co.uk en Additionally, the marines asked for an independent investigation into the matter, not associated with the Ministry of Defense.Gičko Marta July 11, 2022 "Людей називають м'ясом": російські морпіхи за 4 дні втратили 300 осіб під Вугледаром "People are called meat": Russian marines lost 300 people in 4 days near Vugledar https://www.unian.ua/war/lyudey-nazivayut-m-yasom-rosiyski-morpihi-za-4-dni-vtratili-300-lyudey-pid-vugledarom-12037239.html February 28, 2023 Ukrainian Independent Information Agency uk Reportedly, 63 marines were killed and another 240 casualties suffered during the assault, with half of the 155th and 40th Marine Brigade's equipment being lost, including "scores of scores of T-80 tanks and BMP and BTR fighting vehicles".Axe David Russian Marines Are Getting Killed And Wounded By The Hundreds In Ukraine Forbes November 7, 2022 https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/07/russian-marines-are-getting-killed-and-wounded-by-the-hundreds-in-ukraine/ November 18, 2024 By late November 2022, the 155th Brigade was reportedly losing a hundred people a day during the assault on Pavlivka.Defeated Several Times, The Russian 155th Brigade Finally Captured A Few Village Blocks. But Only Because Russian Snipers Forced It Forward. In early February 2023, the 155th brigade again suffered heavy losses during the offensive on Vuhledar.Axe David February 8, 2023 Smashed By Ukrainian Mines And Artillery, Russia’s Winter Offensive Just Ground To A Halt Outside Vuhledar https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/02/08/smashed-by-ukrainian-mines-and-artillery-russias-winter-offensive-just-ground-to-a-halt-outside-vuhledar/ February 28, 2023 Forbes en Video recordings of one combat encounter show nearly 30 Russian combat vehicles being destroyed, including 13 tanks and 12 BMPs.February 9, 2023 RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-9-2023 February 28, 2023 Institute for the Study of War enAksenov Pavel February 11, 2023 Началось ли большое российское наступление в Украине? ru Has a major Russian offensive begun in Ukraine? BBC News https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-64603183 February 28, 2023 According to the Institute for the Study of War, the footage shows Russian forces engaging in "highly dysfunctional" combat tactics, which is likely an indication that the 155th brigade is made up of poorly trained, freshly mobilized soldiers.February 10, 2023 RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-10-2023 February 28, 2023 Institute for the Study of War en On March 24, 2023, the ISW reported that the brigade had been destroyed and reconstituted eight times so far, including at Vuhledar, where the Ukrainians claimed the entire brigade of 5,000 troops was destroyed.Shoaib Alia An elite Russian brigade of 5,000 soldiers has been destroyed and reformed as many as 8 times after heavy losses, report says Business Insider March 26, 2023 https://www.businessinsider.com/same-russian-brigade-destroyed-and-reformed-8-times-report-2023-3 October 16, 2024 On May 17, 2023, the brigade was awarded the Order of Zhukov.2023-05-27 155-я отдельная бригада морской пехоты удостоена ордена Жукова The 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade was awarded the Order of Zhukov https://vl.aif.ru/society/155-ya_otdelnaya_brigada_morskoy_pehoty_udostoena_ordena_zhukova 2025-02-21 Argumenty i Fakty ru On February 27, 2024, a HIMARS strike killed 19 Russian soldiers from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade including a colonel and 2 other ranking officers. The unit commander was also wounded. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/28/for-the-third-time-in-a-week-russian-troops-paraded-within-range-of-ukraines-himars-launchers-and-rockets-rained-down-on-the-parade/?sh=2db41107139c For The Third Time In A Week, Russian Troops Paraded Within Range Of Ukraine’s HIMARS Launchers—And Rockets Rained On The Parade February 28, 2024 David Axe Forbes On October 18, 2024, the Ukrainian 95th Air Assault Brigade killed 30 personnel and destroyed three APCs from the 155th Brigade in an engagement in Kursk Oblast.Axe David Ukrainian Marines And Paratroopers Backed By M-1 Tanks Have Turned The Site Of A War Crime Into A ‘Road Of Death’ For Russian Troops Forbes October 25, 2024 https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/10/25/ukrainian-marines-and-paratroopers-backed-by-m-1-tanks-have-turned-the-site-of-a-war-crime-into-a-road-of-death-for-russian-troops/ October 29, 2024 On January 23, 2025, the brigade was awarded the Order of Suvorov.2025-02-02 Путин наградил 155-ю бригаду морской пехоты ТОФ орденом Суворова Putin awarded the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet with the Order of Suvorov https://vladivostok1.ru/text/politics/2025/02/02/75058100/ 2025-02-21 ВЛАДИВОСТОК1.ру ru On February 2, 2025, the leader of the "Tigir" Battalion Sergey Yefremov was killed by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast.Euromaidan 2 February 2025 Russia's Pacific coast official turned commander dies fighting against Ukraine https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/02/02/russias-pacific-coast-official-turned-commander-dies-fighting-against-ukraine/ YURI ZORIA 2025-02-02 Russian vice-governor and military commander killed in Kursk Oblast, Astra reports https://kyivindependent.com/russian-vice-governor-and-military-commander-killed-in-kursk-oblast-astra-reports/ 2025-02-03 The Kyiv Independent en On February 21, 2025, the brigade received the honorary designation "Kursk".2025-02-21 Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 21.02.2025 № 91 "О присвоении 155 отдельной гвардейской орденов Жукова и Суворова бригаде морской пехоты почетного наименования" Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 21.02.2025 № 91 "On awarding the 155th Separate Guards Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov Naval Infantry Brigade an honorary designation" http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202502210005 2025-02-01 publication.pravo.gov.ru On May 30, 2025, a source with Ukraine's military intelligence agency claimed responsibility for two explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Vladivostok. Targeting the command post and barracks of the 47th Assault Battalion of the 155th Guards Marine Brigade. The Russian Anti-Terrorist Commission of Primorsky Krai claimed the explosion was caused by “propane-butane cylinders” igniting. Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-behind-explosions-in-vladivostok-causing-damage-to-russian-military-source-claims/ 2025-05-30 The Kyiv Independent Kateryna Denisova en On July 3, 2025, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Mikhail Gudkov, former commander of the 155th who was promoted in March, was killed by a missile strike in the Kursk region.2025-07-03 Ukraine kills top Russian navy commander who Putin just promoted https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-kills-top-russian-navy-commander-who-putin-just-promoted-2094160 2025-07-03 Newsweek en2025-07-03 Заместитель главкома ВМФ России Михаил Гудков погиб в Курской области https://rg.ru/2025/07/03/reg-cfo/zamestitel-glavkoma-vmf-rossii-mihail-gudkov-pogib-v-kurskoj-oblasti.html 2025-07-03 Российская газета ru On July 6, the brigade was named after him.2025-07-06 155-й отдельной гвардейской Курской орденов Жукова и Суворова бригаде морской пехоты присвоено почётное наименование «имени дважды Героя Российской Федерации генерал-майора М.Е.Гудкова» The 155th Separate Guards Kursk Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov Naval Infantry Brigade was awarded the honorary title "named after twice Hero of the Russian Federation Major General M.E. Gudkov" http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/77370 2025-07-13 Президент России ru In September 2025, Ukraine's military intelligence claimed it had carried out explosions in Vladivostok, targeting members of the 155th brigade accused of war crimes stationed in the village of Shchitovaya.Ukraine's 'revenge operation' in Russian Far East blows up troops accused of war crimes, intelligence source claims The Kyiv Independent 16 September 2025 https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-revenge-explosions-in-russias-far-east-hit-troops-accused-of-war-crimes/ 17 September 2025 War crimes The unit has been accused of numerous war crimes. In April 2022, the 155th brigade were accused of war crimes during the occupation of settlements near Kyiv. The brigade occupied the area of the town of Ivankiv — the village of Rozvazhiv in the Vyshhorod district of the Kyiv region.April 3, 2022 Українські спецслужби назвали відповідальних за воєнні злочини на Чернігівщині та Київщині Ukrainian special services named those responsible for war crimes in Chernihiv region and Kyiv region https://24tv.ua/ukrayinski-spetssluzhbi-nazvali-vidpovidalnih-za-voyenni-zlochini_n1935807 February 28, 2023 24 Kanal ukApril 3, 2022 Хто розстрілював мирних людей на Київщині та Чернігівщині: перелік підрозділів військ РФ Who shot civilians in Kyiv region and Chernihiv region: a list of Russian military units https://apostrophe.ua/ua/news/society/2022-04-03/kto-rasstrelival-mirnyh-lyudej-na-kievschine-i-chernigovschine-spisok-podrazdelenij-vojsk-rf/264829 February 28, 2023 apostrophe.ua ukApril 3, 2022 Стали відомі підрозділи ЗС Росії, які чинили злочини в Бучі Units of the Russian Armed Forces, which committed crimes in Buch, became known https://novynarnia.com/2022/04/03/staly-vidomi-pidrozdily-zs-rosiyi-yaki-chynyly-zlochyny-v-buchi/ February 28, 2023 novynarnia.com uk In March 2023, Reporters Without Borders identified the 155th brigade as one of the Russian units present in the area at the time of the murder of Ukrainian photo-journalist Maks Levin and his friend in a forest north of Kyiv on April 1, 2022.RSF has new evidence about identity of Russian soldiers in area where Ukrainian journalist was killed RSF March 29, 2023 https://rsf.org/en/rsf-has-new-evidence-about-identity-russian-soldiers-area-where-ukrainian-journalist-was-killed December 19, 2024 In August 2024, members from the brigade allegedly beheaded four Ukrainians and displayed their severed heads on poles, behaviour usually associated with Islamic terror groups. The incident happened after an unsuccessful attempt by Ukrainian forces to break through the Russian border at a checkpoint near Kolotilovka, Belgorod Oblast. Russian soldiers published a video in which a member of the 155th brigade threatened AFU fighters operating in Kursk Oblast and showed the head of a Ukrainian soldier impaled on a stake. DeepState, which initially geolocated the video, claimed that the head was severed, but the condition of the head was more likely to indicate that it was torn off by an explosion and was probably lying separate from the body.2024-08-16 Российские морпехи показали видео с насаженной на кол головой украинского военного. Кадры геолоцированы на КПП «Колотиловка» Russian marines showed a video with the head of a Ukrainian soldier impaled on a stake. The footage was geolocated at the Kolotilovka checkpoint https://theins.ru/news/273937 2025-04-15 The Insider ru Later, Ukrainska Pravda wrote that it had obtained intercepted audio recordings in which a Russian serviceman was allegedly ordered to cut off the heads of four dead Ukrainian soldiers.2024-08-17 Kyiv appeals to UN over Russian video allegedly showing beheaded Ukrainian soldier https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/08/17/kyiv-appeals-to-un-over-russian-video-allegedly-showing-beheaded-ukrainian-soldier-en-news 2025-04-15 Novaya Gazeta Europe In October 2024, marines from the 155th brigade counterattacked Ukrainian held territory in Russia's Kursk Oblast. The members overran a team of lightly armed Ukrainian drone operators while advancing toward a string of villages, rather than taking the nine operators captive as dictated by international law, they stripped the Ukrainians, ordered them to lie face down and then shot them in their heads, apparently killing them all. Imagery of the event was widely shared on social media. After the killings, it was reported that some Ukrainian units were deliberately hunting down the 155th brigade, successfully ambushing and killing ″at least a few″ members of the unit. Composition 2019 "Tigr" Battalion (2024) 59th Naval Infantry Battalion (Slovyanka village) 47th Separate Air Assault BattalionKateryna Denisova Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-behind-explosions-in-vladivostok-causing-damage-to-russian-military-source-claims/ 2025-05-30 The Kyiv Independent en 287th Self-propelled Artillery Battalion (Slovyanka village) 288th Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Battalion References Category:Naval infantry brigades of Russia Category:Military units and formations established in 2009 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2025 Category:Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine