132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade
{{Short description|Russian military unit}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Gorlovka Brigade (2023–present)
3rd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (2014–2023)
| native_name = 132-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая Горловская бригада
| image = Шеврон 3 ОМСБр.png
| image_size =
| caption = Unit patch sleeve
| dates = 14 October 2014 – present
| country = {{Flag|Donetsk People's Republic}} (2014–2022)
{{Flag|Russia}} (2022–present)
| allegiance =
| branch = {{flagicon|Donetsk People's Republic}} DPR People's Militia {{nowrap|(2014–2022)}}
{{army|RUS}} (2022–present)
| type = Brigade
| role = Mechanized infantry
| size =
| command_structure = 22px 51st Combined Arms Army
| garrison = Horlivka
| motto =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| battles = {{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
| decorations =
| battle_honours = {{GuardsUnitRussia}}
| website =
| current_commander = Unknown
| identification_symbol =
}}
The 132nd Separate Guards Motor Rifle Gorlovka Brigade "Berkut" ({{langx|ru|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. It is subordinated 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.{{Cite book |last=Crowther |first=Edward |title=War in Ukraine: Volume 1: Armed Formations of the Donetsk People's Republic, 2014-2022 |date=2022 |publisher=Helion & Company, Limited |isbn=978-1-915070-66-1 |edition=1st |series=EuropeWar Series |location=Havertown |pages=34-37}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-26 |title=Пятая годовщина со дня основания войсковой части № 08803 |trans-title=Fifth anniversary of the foundation of military unit № 08803 |url=https://admin-gorlovka.ru/pyataya-godovshchina-so-dnya-osnovaniya-vojskovoj-chasti-08803/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225142554/https://admin-gorlovka.ru/pyataya-godovshchina-so-dnya-osnovaniya-vojskovoj-chasti-08803/ |archive-date=2022-02-25 |website=admin-gorlovka.ru |language=ru}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=132-я мотострелковая бригада: участие в СВО, состав и вооружение |trans-title=132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade: participation in the SMO, composition and armament |url=https://amalantra.ru/132-motostrelkovaya-brigada/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=amalantra.ru |language=ru}}
The 132nd Brigade along with the 9th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade and the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion took an active part in the Battle of Toretsk.{{Cite web |title=Institute for the Study of War |url=https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-7-2025 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Brigades of the Russian Ground Forces}}
Category:Military units and formations established in 2014
Category:Pro-Russian militant groups
Category:Separatist forces of the war in Donbas
Category:2014 establishments in Ukraine
Category:Paramilitary organizations based in Ukraine
Category:Military of the Luhansk People's Republic
Category:Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine