132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade

132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Gorlovka Brigade
132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Gorlovka Brigade
132-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая Горловская бригада
	Unit patch sleeve
Active	14 October 2014 – present
Country	Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2022); Russia (2022–present)
Branch	DPR People's Militia (2014–2022); Russian Ground Forces (2022–present)
Type	Brigade
Role	Mechanized infantry
Part of	51st Combined Arms Army
Garrison/HQ	Horlivka
Engagements	Russo-Ukrainian War War in Donbas Siege of Sloviansk; ; Invasion of Ukraine; ;
Battle honours	Guards
Commanders
Current; commander	Unknown

The 132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Gorlovka Brigade "Berkut" (Russian: 132-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая Горловская бригада "Беркут", 132 омсбр; MUN 08803) is a military unit of Russian Ground Forces. Until January 1, 2023, it was part of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). It is attached to the 51st Guards Combined Arms Army.

History

War in Donbas

The 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade originates from the Bezler Group – a formation initially consisting of around 20 men commanded by Igor "Bes" Bezler, a former lieutenant colonel of the Russian Armed Forces who fought alongside Strelkov during the siege of Sloviansk. After disagreements with Strelkov, Bezler moved his unit to Horlivka where it took part in heavy fighting against Ukrainian forces.

On October 14, 2014, the Bezler Group was reorganized into the 3rd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade "Berkut", with Bezler being "retired" from command in November. The name and emblem closely resembled that of a now-disbanded Ukrainian riot police unit deployed against protesters during the Maidan Revolution. This could be explained by the prevalence of former members of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs within the brigade.^[1]

In February 2015, for its performance in combat operations in Ozerianivka, Mykhailivka, Debaltseve and Vuhlehirsk, this unit was awarded the honorary designation "Gorlovka". On November 15 it received the "guards" status.^[2]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

In January 2023, after the 1st Army Corps was incorporated into the Russian Armed Forces, the brigade was renamed the 132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade.^[3]

References

^ Crowther, Edward (2022). War in Ukraine: Volume 1: Armed Formations of the Donetsk People's Republic, 2014-2022. EuropeWar Series (1st ed.). Havertown: Helion & Company, Limited. pp. 34–37. ISBN 978-1-915070-66-1.
^ "Пятая годовщина со дня основания войсковой части № 08803" [Fifth anniversary of the foundation of military unit № 08803]. admin-gorlovka.ru (in Russian). 2019-10-26. Archived from the original on 2022-02-25.
^ "132-я мотострелковая бригада: участие в СВО, состав и вооружение" [132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade: participation in the SMO, composition and armament]. amalantra.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-11-27.

[1] Crowther, Edward (2022). War in Ukraine: Volume 1: Armed Formations of the Donetsk People's Republic, 2014-2022. EuropeWar Series (1st ed.). Havertown: Helion & Company, Limited. pp. 34–37. ISBN 978-1-915070-66-1.

[2] "Пятая годовщина со дня основания войсковой части № 08803" [Fifth anniversary of the foundation of military unit № 08803]. admin-gorlovka.ru (in Russian). 2019-10-26. Archived from the original on 2022-02-25.

[3] "132-я мотострелковая бригада: участие в СВО, состав и вооружение" [132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade: participation in the SMO, composition and armament]. amalantra.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-11-27.

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