155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade

The 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade was created on December 1, 2009, by reorganizing the 55th Naval Infantry Division, which was created in 1968.{{Cite web |last=Nandy |first=Sumana |date=March 28, 2022 |title='Guards' title for Russia's two naval brigades for protecting Fatherland |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/russia-ukraine-war/story/guards-title-for-russia-two-naval-brigades-for-protecting-fatherland-1930555-2022-03-28 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}}

The 155th Separate Marine Brigade performed combat missions in Chechnya during the First Russian-Chechen War.{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2022 |title=Минобороны опровергло заявления о высоких потерях 155-й бригады ТОФ |trans-title=The Ministry of Defense denied statements about the high losses of the 155th brigade of the Pacific Fleet |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2022/11/07/949134-minoboroni-oproverglo-zayavleniya |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Vedomosti |language=ru}} First, the 165th Marine Regiment was sent, followed by the consolidated 106th Marine Regiment, which operated in the foothills and mountainous regions of Chechnya. More than 2,400 servicemen were awarded orders and medals, 63 infantrymen died in battle, and five of them became a Hero of the Russian Federation.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Гвардия с Тихого океана |trans-title=Guard from the Pacific |url=https://vladnews.ru/ev/vl/4895/131063/gvardiya_tihogo |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=vladnews.ru |language=ru}}

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.{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2018 |title=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 |trans-title=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 |url=https://www.fondob.ru/posts/3762387 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=fondob.ru}}

Starting in 2022, the brigade took part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |date=November 7, 2022 |title=Russian Marines Are Getting Killed And Wounded By The Hundreds In Ukraine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/07/russian-marines-are-getting-killed-and-wounded-by-the-hundreds-in-ukraine/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=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.{{Cite web |last=Korogodskyi |first=Yuriy |date=March 13, 2022 |title=ЗСУ майже повністю знищили бригаду морської піхоти росіян, |trans-title=The Armed Forces almost completely destroyed the Russian marine brigade, |url=https://lb.ua/society/2022/03/13/509335_zsu_mayzhe_povnistyu_znishchili_brigadu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313162938/https://lb.ua/society/2022/03/13/509335_zsu_mayzhe_povnistyu_znishchili_brigadu.html |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=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.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2022 |title=У білорусь перекинули війська з іншого кінця росії, аби поповнити втрати |trans-title=Troops from the other side of Russia were transferred to Belarus to replenish losses |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3434206-u-bilorus-perekinuli-vijska-z-insogo-kinca-rosii-abi-popovniti-vtrati.html |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Ukrinform |language=uk}}

On March 28, President Putin assigned the brigade the rank of guards, at the same time as the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade.{{Cite web |last=Sokirko |first=Viktor |date=March 28, 2022 |title=Спецоперация на Украине рождает новую российскую гвардию |trans-title=Special operation in Ukraine gives rise to a new Russian guard |url=https://vz.ru/society/2022/3/28/1150869.html |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Vzglyad |language=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.{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2022 |title="Нам уже ніколи не буде соромно". Десять знакових перемог України за рік великої війни з РФ |trans-title="We will never be ashamed." Ten significant victories of Ukraine during the year of the great war with the Russian Federation |url=https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/viyna-v-ukrajini-10-naybilshih-peremog-ukrajini-za-rik-shcho-minuv-z-24-lyutogo-2022-50306472.html |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=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.{{Cite web |title="They Call Us Meat": BBC Eye investigation shows how glaring tactical mistakes cost elite Russian marines their lives in Ukraine despite repeated warnings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/bbc-eye-russian-marines-ukraine/ |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}} Additionally, the marines asked for an independent investigation into the matter, not associated with the Ministry of Defense.{{Cite web |last=Gičko |first=Marta |date=July 11, 2022 |title="Людей називають м'ясом": російські морпіхи за 4 дні втратили 300 осіб під Вугледаром |trans-title="People are called meat": Russian marines lost 300 people in 4 days near Vugledar |url=https://www.unian.ua/war/lyudey-nazivayut-m-yasom-rosiyski-morpihi-za-4-dni-vtratili-300-lyudey-pid-vugledarom-12037239.html |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Ukrainian Independent Information Agency |language=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".{{cite web | last=Axe | first=David | title=Russian Marines Are Getting Killed And Wounded By The Hundreds In Ukraine | website=Forbes | date=November 7, 2022 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/07/russian-marines-are-getting-killed-and-wounded-by-the-hundreds-in-ukraine/ | access-date=November 18, 2024}}

By late November 2022, the 155th Brigade was reportedly losing a hundred people a day during the assault on Pavlivka.[https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/12/defeated-several-times-the-russian-155th-brigade-finally-captured-a-few-village-blocks-but-only-because-russian-snipers-forced-it-forward/?sh=3d30319b2187 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.{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Smashed By Ukrainian Mines And Artillery, Russia’s Winter Offensive Just Ground To A Halt Outside Vuhledar |url=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/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Video recordings of one combat encounter show nearly 30 Russian combat vehicles being destroyed, including 13 tanks and 12 BMPs.{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2023 |title=RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-9-2023 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Aksenov |first=Pavel |date=February 11, 2023 |title=Началось ли большое российское наступление в Украине? |language=ru |trans-title=Has a major Russian offensive begun in Ukraine? |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-64603183 |access-date=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.{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2023 |title=RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-10-2023|access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=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.{{cite web | last=Shoaib | first=Alia | title=An elite Russian brigade of 5,000 soldiers has been destroyed and reformed as many as 8 times after heavy losses, report says | website=Business Insider | date=March 26, 2023 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/same-russian-brigade-destroyed-and-reformed-8-times-report-2023-3 |access-date=October 16, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Bickerton | first=James | title=Russian brigade destroyed and reconstituted up to 8 times after losses: ISW | website=Newsweek | date=March 25, 2023 | url=https://www.newsweek.com/russian-brigade-destroyed-reconstituted-8-times-after-losses-isw-1790307 | access-date=November 20, 2024}}

On May 17, 2023, the brigade was awarded the Order of Zhukov.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-27 |title=155-я отдельная бригада морской пехоты удостоена ордена Жукова |trans-title=The 155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade was awarded the Order of Zhukov |url=https://vl.aif.ru/society/155-ya_otdelnaya_brigada_morskoy_pehoty_udostoena_ordena_zhukova |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Argumenty i Fakty |language=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.{{cite web |url= 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|title= For The Third Time In A Week, Russian Troops Paraded Within Range Of Ukraine’s HIMARS Launchers—And Rockets Rained On The Parade|date=February 28, 2024 |author= David Axe |publisher=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.{{cite web | last=Axe | first=David | title=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 | website=Forbes | date=October 25, 2024 |url=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/ | access-date=October 29, 2024}}

On January 23, 2025, the brigade was awarded the Order of Suvorov.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-02 |title=Путин наградил 155-ю бригаду морской пехоты ТОФ орденом Суворова |trans-title=Putin awarded the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet with the Order of Suvorov |url=https://vladivostok1.ru/text/politics/2025/02/02/75058100/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=ВЛАДИВОСТОК1.ру |language=ru}}

On 2 February 2025, The leader of the "Tigir" Battalion Sergey Yefremov was killed by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast.{{cite web|work=Euromaidan|date=2 February 2025 |title= Russia's Pacific coast official turned commander dies fighting against Ukraine |url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/02/02/russias-pacific-coast-official-turned-commander-dies-fighting-against-ukraine/ |author= YURI ZORIA }}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-02 |title=Russian vice-governor and military commander killed in Kursk Oblast, Astra reports |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russian-vice-governor-and-military-commander-killed-in-kursk-oblast-astra-reports/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}

On February 21, 2025, the brigade received the honorary designation "Kursk".{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 21.02.2025 № 91 "О присвоении 155 отдельной гвардейской орденов Жукова и Суворова бригаде морской пехоты почетного наименования" |trans-title=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" |url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202502210005 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=publication.pravo.gov.ru}}

On 30 May 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.{{Cite web |title= Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims |url= https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-behind-explosions-in-vladivostok-causing-damage-to-russian-military-source-claims/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=The Kyiv Independent |author= Kateryna Denisova|language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2022 |title=Українські спецслужби назвали відповідальних за воєнні злочини на Чернігівщині та Київщині |trans-title=Ukrainian special services named those responsible for war crimes in Chernihiv region and Kyiv region |url=https://24tv.ua/ukrayinski-spetssluzhbi-nazvali-vidpovidalnih-za-voyenni-zlochini_n1935807 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=24 Kanal |language=uk}}{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2022 |title=Хто розстрілював мирних людей на Київщині та Чернігівщині: перелік підрозділів військ РФ |trans-title=Who shot civilians in Kyiv region and Chernihiv region: a list of Russian military units |url=https://apostrophe.ua/ua/news/society/2022-04-03/kto-rasstrelival-mirnyh-lyudej-na-kievschine-i-chernigovschine-spisok-podrazdelenij-vojsk-rf/264829 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=apostrophe.ua |language=uk}}{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2022 |title=Стали відомі підрозділи ЗС Росії, які чинили злочини в Бучі |trans-title=Units of the Russian Armed Forces, which committed crimes in Buch, became known |url=https://novynarnia.com/2022/04/03/staly-vidomi-pidrozdily-zs-rosiyi-yaki-chynyly-zlochyny-v-buchi/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=novynarnia.com |language=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.{{cite web | title=RSF has new evidence about identity of Russian soldiers in area where Ukrainian journalist was killed |website=RSF |date=March 29, 2023 | url=https://rsf.org/en/rsf-has-new-evidence-about-identity-russian-soldiers-area-where-ukrainian-journalist-was-killed | access-date=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.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-16 |title=Российские морпехи показали видео с насаженной на кол головой украинского военного. Кадры геолоцированы на КПП «Колотиловка» |trans-title=Russian marines showed a video with the head of a Ukrainian soldier impaled on a stake. The footage was geolocated at the Kolotilovka checkpoint |url=https://theins.ru/news/273937 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=The Insider |language=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.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-17 |title=Kyiv appeals to UN over Russian video allegedly showing beheaded Ukrainian soldier |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/08/17/kyiv-appeals-to-un-over-russian-video-allegedly-showing-beheaded-ukrainian-soldier-en-news |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=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.

• "Tigir" Battalion (2024){{cite web|work=Euromaidan|date=2 February 2025 |title= Russia's Pacific coast official turned commander dies fighting against Ukraine |url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/02/02/russias-pacific-coast-official-turned-commander-dies-fighting-against-ukraine/ |author= YURI ZORIA }}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-02 |title=Russian vice-governor and military commander killed in Kursk Oblast, Astra reports |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russian-vice-governor-and-military-commander-killed-in-kursk-oblast-astra-reports/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}
• 59th Naval Infantry Battalion (Slovyanka village)
• 47th Separate Air Assault Battalion{{Cite web |author=Kateryna Denisova |title=Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-behind-explosions-in-vladivostok-causing-damage-to-russian-military-source-claims/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}
• 287th Self-propelled artillery division (Slovyanka village)
• 288th Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Division

Category:Naval infantry brigades of Russia

Category:Military units and formations established in 2009

Category:Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine