16th Army Aviation Brigade

Ukrainian Ground Forces unit the Ukrainian brigade other brigades 16th Brigade (disambiguation) 16th Army Aviation Brigade uk 16-та окрема бригада армійської авіації "Броди" 16 ОБрАА к.svg 150 30 May 1981 - present Ukraine Ukraine USSR Soviet Union (1981–1991) Ukraine Ukraine Brigade 25px Army aviation Brody Air Base, Lviv Oblast Brody Russo-Ukrainian War Official Facebook page 200px200px For Courage and Bravery General Roman Vitaliyovych Białostotsky 100px|center Former Shoulderpatch 100px|center Former Insignia Mi-24 Mi-8, Mi-2 The 16th Army Aviation Brigade Brody is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.2007-08-28 Розпорядження голови обласної ради від 28.08.2007 р. № 82 "Про нагородження Почесною грамотою обласної ради" http://oblrada.ks.ua/index.php?id=11005 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110823132902/http://oblrada.ks.ua/index.php?id=11005 2011-08-23 2007-11-21 uk History The Brigade was founded as the Soviet 119th Separate Helicopter Regiment on 30 May 1981, in Brody, Lviv Oblast. Following the collapse of the USSR, it was transferred to the Ukrainian armed forces.n.d. 119th independent Helicopter Regiment https://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/ovp/119ovp.htm 2022-08-14 WW2.DK In October 1993, the regiment participated in the first military exercises of the restored Ukrainian army. On 26 August 1994, the 119th Regiment was reorganized into the 3rd Army Aviation Brigade, consisting of two helicopter squadrons16-я отдельная бригада армейской авиации(дзеркало) // 8-й армійський корпус ЗСУ and was later relocated to the 38th Army Corps.2004-05-28 Мужність та героїзм воїнів-миротворців відзначено державними та відомчими нагородами http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=3905 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110607180949/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=3905 2011-06-07 MIL In June 1995, the brigade started to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission in Yugoslavia.https://galinfo.com.ua/news/u_brodah_vidznachyly_15richchya_3go_okremogo_polku_armiyskoi_aviatsii_78324.html У Бродах відзначили 15-річчя 3-го окремого полку армійської авіації Гал-інфо 2018-07-14 15 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180715011044/https://galinfo.com.ua/news/u_brodah_vidznachyly_15richchya_3go_okremogo_polku_armiyskoi_aviatsii_78324.html Since 1996, the brigade performed operations as part of the Partnership for Peace program and was deployed as a part of the Kosovo Force.https://galinfo.com.ua/news/brodivskyy_polk_aviatsii_reformuvaly_u_brygadu_125512.html Бродівський полк авіації реформували у бригаду Гал-інфо 2018-07-14 15 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180715011748/https://galinfo.com.ua/news/brodivskyy_polk_aviatsii_reformuvaly_u_brygadu_125512.html On October 1, 1998, the brigade was subordinated to the Operational Command West. In December 2003, it became the 3rd Separate Army Aviation Regiment of the Western Ukraine was created on the basis of the brigade. On August 26, 2004, the regiment underwent restructuring and became a Brigade.2007-07-17 В зоні лиха на Львівщині опинились 14 населених пунктів http://ua.proua.com/news/2007/07/17/094747.html https://archive.today/20070703065624/http://ua.proua.com/news/2007/07/17/094747.html 2007-07-03 Незалежний медіа-холдінг "Еволюшен Медіа" uk The following year, in 2005, the Brigade was moved to the 8th Army Corps, and it has been a part of this corps ever since. The brigade's base was used to train personnel for the first rotation of the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent of MONUSCO, and personnel of the brigade took part in MONUSCO as well as the United Nations Mission in Liberia. As of 2013, 6 Mi-24 and 8 Mi-8http://k-models.blogspot.com/2014/06/1-24-7.html Армейская авиация Украины (часть 1) 7 July 2014 15 July 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140715033347/http://k-models.blogspot.com/2014/06/1-24-7.html and more than 300 personnel of the brigade were participating in peacekeeping operations. November 2010 marked the 15th anniversary of its establishment. As of 2012, the regiment had participated in 21 UN peacekeeping missions since June 1995. In December 2012, it was reorganized into the 16th separate army aviation brigade. Russo-Ukrainian-War The brigade took an active part in the War in Donbas. On May 2, 2014, the largest operation of Ukrainian army aviation since the beginning of the conflict was carried out, a number of militant checkpoints around Sloviansk were destroyed and the city was besieged. The exact number of helicopters involved is unknown, but Russian sources claimed that about 20 aircraft were observed.У Слов'янську стає гаряче https://mil.in.ua/uk/articles/u-slov-yansku-staye-garyache/ Мілітарний 2023-06-08 uk 12 April 2020 2 Mi-24 helicopters of the brigade were shot down in this 2 May operation during the Siege of Sloviansk.http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/05/2/7024148/ Міноборони: у Слов'янську збито 2 вертольоти, діють озброєні професійні диверсійні групи Українська правда 2016-09-20 2015-05-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20150503064434/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/05/2/7024148/Телеканал ZIK Приховані авіакатастрофи в АТО 2017-02-14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdPbKdNkec 2017-02-20 5 April 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170405161726/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdPbKdNkec The Mi-24P Yellow 09 was flying over Sloviansk with its task being to provide support to Ukrainian columns that were advancing towards the city. At around 3:00 am, it was in the sky over Karpivka at an altitude of approximately 600 meters. At this time, a MANPADS was fired at it but it missed, almost simultaneously a second missile was fired, scoring a hit. It caught fire, began to spin, fell almost vertically, and fell near a pond near Karpivka. There were some claims that the second hit was scored by a grenade launcher. Another helicopter, the Mi-24P Yellow 40, went to the aid of the first helicopter, but was also hit by MANPADS. The entire crew of Major Ruslan Plokhodko, Major Oleksandr Sabada, Captain Mykola Topchiy were killed in action. On June 24, an Mi-8 MT helicopter, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Belkin, delivered cargo to the forces in the Sloviansk region and picked up a group of specialists from the Security Service of Ukraine who were installing telecommunications equipment in the ATO zone. After taking off from Mount Karachun at about 17:10, the helicopter was shot down by separatists using MANPADS killing nine people aboard including two belonging to the brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Belkin Andriy Volodymyrovych and Major Mazunov Ruslan Aleksandrovich.Під Слов'янськом збили український вертоліт, 9 загиблих https://web.archive.org/web/20140701112155/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/24/7030008/ 1 July 2014 // «Українська правда», 24 червня 2014У збитому вертольоті було четверо працівників СБУ https://web.archive.org/web/20170802040726/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/24/7030030/ 2 August 2017 // «Українська правда», 24 червня 2014На місці падіння збитого Мі-8 знайшли бортовий самописець https://web.archive.org/web/20170801234235/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/25/7030130/ 1 August 2017 // «Українська правда», 25 червня 2014http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/24/7030008/?attempt=1 Під Слов'янськом збили український вертоліт, 9 загиблих, УП 22 October 2017 23 October 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171023010453/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/06/24/7030008/?attempt=1 Another Mi-8 was shot down on 7 August 2014 near Berezovo. On 25 August 2015, during the Independence March to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko presented the brigade with a battle flag and the award "For Courage and Bravery".KEn0ljak0uo Марш Незалежності на Хрещатику в Києві. Онлайн-трансляція. ТСН, Streamed live on Aug 24, 2015 49m21s On January 11, 2016, a serviceman of the brigade, Roman Bogdanovich Kozodiy, was killed.https://nekropole.info/ua/Kozodij-Roman-Bogdanovich Роман Козодій 27 July 2018 27 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180727115401/https://nekropole.info/ua/Kozodij-Roman-Bogdanovich On 24 August 2017, the brigade was awarded the honorary name "Brody"http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/2342017-22422 УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №234/2017 — Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України uk Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України 2017-08-24 24 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135815/http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/2342017-22422 and a battle banner, the next day.https://ukr.lb.ua/news/2017/08/24/374759_72y_brigadi_prisvoieno_imya_chornih.html 72-й бригаді присвоєно ім'я Чорних Запорожців, 24-й - ім'я короля Данила LB.ua 2017-08-24 24 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170824175808/https://ukr.lb.ua/news/2017/08/24/374759_72y_brigadi_prisvoieno_imya_chornih.html On 29 May 2019 at 23:27 during a night training flight as part of the exercises "Day-Night", contact was lost with an Mi-8 helicopter of the brigade near the village of Sestryatyn, Rivne Oblast. It was reported that two helicopters flew over the village, one of them caught fire while still in the air and fell, no explosion was heard, only a flash was seen. As a result of the crash, four crew members including brigade commander Colonel Mazepa Ihor Yaroslavovych, Popenko Vladislav Valeriyovych, Romaniuk Vasyl Myronovych and Datsyuk Pavlo Yuriyovych died.Авіакастрофа Мі-8: четверо українських льотчиків загинуло https://mil.in.ua/aviakastrofa-mi-8-chetvero-ukrayinskyh-lotchykiv-zagynulo/ MIL.IN.UA 2019-05-30 2019-05-30 uk 30 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190530071140/https://mil.in.ua/aviakastrofa-mi-8-chetvero-ukrayinskyh-lotchykiv-zagynulo/Катастрофа військового українського гелікоптера: з'явились подробиці про загиблих героїв https://web.archive.org/web/20191016065059/https://znaj.ua/society/236134-katastrofa-mi-8-na-rivnenshchini-z-yavilis-podrobici-pro-naymolodshogo-zagiblogo-geroya 16 October 2019 Катастрофа військового українського гелікоптера: з'явились подробиці про загиблих героїв] https://zaxid.net/30_travnya_na_lvivshhini_ogolosili_den_zhalobi_cherez_zagibel_chotiroh_vertolitnikiv_n1482474 зо травня га Львівщині оголосили жалобу через загибель чотирьох вертолітників 2019-05-30 Zaxid.net 30 May 2019 30 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190530072035/https://zaxid.net/30_travnya_na_lvivshhini_ogolosili_den_zhalobi_cherez_zagibel_chotiroh_vertolitnikiv_n1482474 Full scale invasion On 28 February 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an Mi-8 helicopter of the brigade was performing a combat flight mission to near Makariv was hit by a Russian missile. Colonel Grigoriev Oleksandr Oleksandrovich,«Шумахер» був професіоналом найвищої проби… https://web.archive.org/web/20220424161048/https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/04/24/shumaher-buv-profesionalom-najvyshhoyi-proby/ 24 April 2022 Captain Nesteruk Dmytro Mykolayovych and Lieutenant Hnatiuk Vasyl Andriyovych were killed.У Бродах на Львівщині попрощалися із трьома авіаторами 16-ї бригади, які в перші дні війни загинули на Київщині. ФОТО https://censor.net/ua/photo_news/3334669/u_brodah_na_lvivschyni_poproschalysya_iz_troma_aviatoramy_16yi_brygady_yaki_v_pershi_dni_viyiny_zagynuly Цензор.НЕТ 2022-04-17 2023-12-06 uk Цензор.НЕТhttps://ukr.lb.ua/news/2017/08/24/374759_72y_brigadi_prisvoieno_imya_chornih.html 16 квітня у Бродах відбулася прощальна церемонія з полеглими в боротьбі за незалежність України авіаторами 16 окремої бригади армійської авіації "Броди" 2022-04-16 24 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170824175808/https://ukr.lb.ua/news/2017/08/24/374759_72y_brigadi_prisvoieno_imya_chornih.html On 8 March 2022, an Mi-24 helicopter of the brigade was shot down near the village of Kulazhyntsi, Brovary district after successfully destroying multiple Russian vehicles and tanks. Both pilots: Lieutenant Colonel Marynyak Oleksandr Myroslavovychhttps://nv.ua/ukr/kharkiv/boji-za-kijiv-rosiyani-zbili-ukrajinskiy-vertolit-mi-24-novini-harkova-ta-ukrajini-50224362.html У боях за Київ загинули випускники Харківського університету Повітряних сил імені Кожедуба 16 March 2022 16 March 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220316092725/https://nv.ua/ukr/kharkiv/boji-za-kijiv-rosiyani-zbili-ukrajinskiy-vertolit-mi-24-novini-harkova-ta-ukrajini-50224362.html and Captain Bezzub Ivan Romanovychhttps://khm.depo.ua/ukr/khm/zaginuv-26-richniy-voin-zi-starokostyantinova-202203131433591 Загинув 26-річний воїн зі Старокостянтинова 2025-02-13 2023-11-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20231121141225/https://khm.depo.ua/ukr/khm/zaginuv-26-richniy-voin-zi-starokostyantinova-202203131433591 dead were killed in the shootdown. On 31 March 2022, an Mi-8 helicopter LG the brigade attempted to evacuate seriously wounded personnel from the besieged Mariupol. The helicopter was shot down by Russian forces killing navigator, Denis Mikhailovich Badika,Рятував поранених. У Маріуполі загинув 24-річний льотчик-штурман з Вінниці https://web.archive.org/web/20220409155027/https://vn.20minut.ua/lyudi/ryatuvav-poranenih-u-mariupoli-zaginuv-24-richniy-lotchik-shturman-z-v-11553552.html 9 April 2022 pilot Yuriy Volodymyrovych TymusДружина загиблого під Маріуполем вертолітника: «Врятовані Юрою життя є найкращим свідченням того, що він жив недарма» and flight engineer Ivan Volodymyrovych Vakhovsky.https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/140/2022#Text Указ Президента України від 16.03.2022 № 140/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» Верховна Рада України uk 2024-03-01 On April 5, 2022, another Mi-8 helicopter was shot down during a similar attempt and Colonel Vyacheslav Olegovich Voronyi was killed.https://suspilne.media/lviv/675210-2-lutogo-na-lvivsini-pohovaut-simoh-vijskovih/ 2 лютого на Львівщині поховають сімох військових Public Lviv 2 February 2024 Yulia Ravluk https://web.archive.org/web/20240204035727/https://suspilne.media/675210-2-lutogo-na-lvivsini-pohovaut-simoh-vijskovih/ 4 February 2024 3 February 2025 On 12 December 2025 the unit was awarded the Presidential Award For Courage and Bravery by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the second time.https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/u-harkovi-prezident-privitav-voyiniv-iz-dnem-suhoputnih-vijs-101961 In Kharkiv, the President Congratulated the Warriors on Land Forces Day and Presented Them with State Awards President of Ukraine 12 December 2025 4 March 2026 On 30 June 2026, a Mi-8 helicopter of the brigade was lost in Starytskivka, Poltava Oblast while attempting to shoot down a Russian Geran one-way attack drone, killing the crew of four consisting of commander Yuriy Voron, navigator Valentin Mukshinov, flight engineer Bohdan Khmil and aerial gunner Mykhailo Deryaga. Ranter Harro Accident Mil Mi-8 , Tuesday 30 June 2026 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=573554 2026-07-15 aviation-safety.net2026-07-06 Four Mi-8 crew members killed over Poltava region during Russian drone interception on June 30 https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1182660.html 2026-07-15 Interfax-Ukraine enUkrainian Mi-8 helicopter crew killed while repelling Russian drone attack on 30 June – photo https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/07/06/8042697/ 2026-07-15 Ukrainska Pravda en The commander of the brigade, Colonel Oleg Starchenko stated that the brigade had sustained heavily losses, having lost thirty pilots in the four years of war.2026-07-08 Прийняв удар на себе: про останній бій екіпажу Мі-8 над Полтавщиною, який врятував сотні життів – Новини Полтавщини https://np.pl.ua/2026/07/08/pryyniav-udar-na-sebe-pro-ostanniy-biy-ekipazhu-mi-8-nad-poltavshchynoiu-iakyy-vriatuvav-sotni-zhyttiv/ 2026-07-15 uk Structure 16th Army Aviation Brigade Headquarters 1st Squadron 2nd Squadronhttps://scramble.nl/planning/orbats/ukraine/ukraine-army-aviation#%20%20%20%20 Ukraine Army Aviation Scramble.nl 25 February 2022 Commanders Colonel Yaremenko Igor Vitaliyovych (?-2018) Colonel Mazepa Igor Yaroslavovych (2018-2019) Lieutenant Colonel Bardakov Pavel Alekseevich (2019) General Roman Vitaliyovych Białostotsky (2019-) References Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Category:Army aviation brigades of Ukraine