7th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 7th Separate Guards Motor Rifle "Chistyakov" Brigade
| native_name = 7-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая Чистяковская бригада
| image = Great emblem of the 7th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade.svg
| caption = Great emblem of the brigade
| dates = 8 November 2014 – present
| allegiance = {{flagicon image|Flag of Lugansk People's Republic.svg}} Luhansk People's Republic (2014–2022)
{{flagdeco|Russia}} Russia (2022–present)
| branch = {{ill|LPR People's Militia|ru|Народная милиция Луганской Народной Республики}} (2014–2022)
{{army|RUS}} (2022–present)
| role = Motorized infantry
| command_structure = 20px 3rd Guards Combined Arms Army
| garrison = Brianka
| battles = {{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
| decorations = {{GuardsUnitRussia}}
| identification_symbol = 100px
| identification_symbol_label = Former sleeve patch
}}
The 7th Separate Guards Motor Rifle "Chistyakov" Brigade ({{langx|ru|7-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая Чистяковская бригада, 7 oмсбр}}; MUN 08807{{Cite book |last=Crowther |first=Edward |title=Armed formations of the Luhansk People's Republic 2014-2022 |last2=Crowther |first2=Edward R. |date=2023 |publisher=Helion & Company Limited |isbn=978-1-80451-217-3 |series=War in Ukraine / Edward Crowther |location=Warwick |page=34}}) is a military unit of Russian Ground Forces. Until January 1, 2023, it was part of the Luhansk People's Militia. It is attached to the 3rd Guards Combined Arms Army.
History
= War in Donbas =
The 7th Separate Guards Motor Rifle "Chistyakov" Brigade was formed in Torez, in Donetsk oblast, from part of the group of militants who had fought under Igor Girkin in Sloviansk and escaped from encirclement there.
For a short period of time in 2015, part of Girkin's Slavyansk Brigade was formed into the DPR 1st Army Corps 7th Slavyansk Motor Rifle Brigade. This brigade had at least one Motor rifle battalion. At an unknown date in late 2015, the 7th Slavyansk Motor Rifle Brigade was transferred to the LPR 2nd Army Corps, and disappeared from the DPR 1st Army Corps order of battle. Colonel Alexander Bushuev was the brigade's commander since September 2015 until his death on July 3, 2016.{{Cite web |date=2016-07-04 |title=Життя і смерть окупанта Бушуєва, полковника ЗС Росії |trans-title=Life and Death of the Occupier Bushuyev, Colonel of the Russian Armed Forces |url=https://novynarnia.com/2016/07/04/zhittya-i-smert-okupanta-bushuyeva-polkovnika-zs-rosiyi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301033331/https://novynarnia.com/2016/07/04/zhittya-i-smert-okupanta-bushuyeva-polkovnika-zs-rosiyi/ |archive-date=2021-03-01 |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=novynarnia.com |language=uk}}
The name "Chistyakov" was given to the brigade after the capture of Debaltseve by combined DPR, LPR and Russian forces, taking the name of a Soviet-era formation which took part in operations in Donbas during the Second World War.
In October 2018, the brigade was awarded the honorary title of "Guards" by the head of the LPR, Leonid Pasechnik.
The brigade is stationed in Brianka.{{Cite web |title=Чистяковская мотострелковая бригада Народной милиции ЛНР отметила свое пятилетие (ФОТО) |trans-title=The Chistyakov motor rifle brigade of the LPR People's Militia celebrated its fifth anniversary (PHOTO) |url=https://lug-info.ru/news/chistyakovskaya-motostrelkovaya-brigada-narodnoi-militsii-lnr-otmetila-v-bryanke-svoe-pyatiletie-foto-50787/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=lug-info.ru |language=ru}}
= Russian invasion of Ukraine =
It was reported in late May 2022 that the brigade had taken part in combat at Sievierodonetsk.
{{cite web|
website=Цензор.нет|
language=uk|
title=Штурмову групу окупантів розбито у Сєверодонецьку, в полон взято двох російських солдатів|
url=https://censor.net/ua/news/3344709/shturmovu_grupu_okupantiv_rozbyto_u_syeverodonetsku_v_polon_vzyato_dvoh_rosiyiskyh_soldativ_butusov|
date=30 May 2022|
access-date=4 May 2025|
first=Богдан|
last=Русінко}}
The brigade also took part in the battle of Lysychansk.{{Cite web |title=Первая годовщина освобождения Лисичанска: интервью Виктора Водолацкого |trans-title=The First Anniversary of the Liberation of Lysychansk: Interview with Viktor Vodolatskiy |url=https://tamlife.ru/articles/society/2023-07-03/pervaya-godovschina-osvobozhdeniya-lisichanska-intervyu-viktora-vodolatskogo-195221 |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=tamlife.ru |language=ru}}
Structure
- 1st Motor Rifle Battalion
- 2nd Motor Rifle Battalion
- 3rd Motor Rifle Battalion
- Tank battalion
- Self-propelled artillery battalion
- Towed artillery battalion
- Rocket artillery battalion
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