Luhansk Assault Regiment
{{distinguish|2nd Army Corps, also called 3rd Guards Lugansk-Severodonetsk Combined Arms Army (Russia)}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Luhansk Assault Regiment (2023–present)
Luhansk-1 Battalion (2014–2023)
| image = Shturmoviy polk Luhgansk.png
| caption = Coat of arms of the regiment
| dates = May 2014 – present
| allegiance = {{UKR}}
| type = Light infantry
| role = Offensive actions, Reconnaissance
| size = ~500
| motto = "Україна понад усе!"
("{{ill|Ukraine above all!|uk|Україна понад усе!}}")
| garrison = Shchastia (2014-2022)
Dnipro (2022-)
| battles = War in Donbas
- Battle of Rubizhne
- Battle of Severodonetsk (2022)
- Battle of Lysychansk
- Battle of Bakhmut
- Kharkiv counteroffensive
- Battle of Chasiv Yar
| identification_symbol = 200px
| identification_symbol_label = Former Coat of Arms
| identification_symbol_2 = 200px
| identification_symbol_2_label = Former flag
}}
Luhansk Assault Regiment ({{langx|uk|Штурмовий полк «Луганськ»|Shturmkvyi polk “Luhansk”}}), formerly known as the Luhansk-1 Battalion, is a paramilitary unit of the Liut Brigade.{{Cite web |title=Luhansk Assault Regiment |publisher=Military Land |date=February 28, 2024 |url=https://militaryland.net/ukraine/special-police-forces/luhansk1-regiment/}}
History
= Creation =
In April 2014, the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, issued an order to form volunteer battalions from citizens loyal to Ukraine, especially in Eastern Ukraine.{{Cite web |url=http://www.slovoidilo.ua/promise/21985.html |title=Аваков сформує регіональні спецпідрозділи МВС на основі громадських утворень |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |publisher=Slvoidilo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112115812/http://www.slovoidilo.ua/promise/21985.html }}{{Cite web |url=http://ukr.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/mvd-nabiraet-dobrovolcev-specpodrazdeleniya-po-ohrane-poryadka-na-yugo-vostoke-513041.html |title=МВС набирає добровольців спецпідрозділу з охорони порядку на південному сході |publisher=Segodnya |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002224/https://ukr.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/mvd-nabiraet-dobrovolcev-specpodrazdeleniya-po-ohrane-poryadka-na-yugo-vostoke-513041.html }} On May 8, 2014, the ministry officially created the "Luhansk-1" battalion from volunteer soldiers to fight in the raging war in Donbas.{{Cite web |title=МВД объявило набор в батальоны "Луганск-1" и "Артемовск" |publisher=Focus.ua |url=http://focus.ua/society/307953/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811183118/http://focus.ua/society/307953/ |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |language=ru}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/06/2/7027746/ |title=На Днепропетровщине создают батальоны "Луганск" и "Артемовск" |publisher=Ukrainska Pravda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814021319/http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/06/2/7027746/ |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |language=ru}}
When the battalion first created, around 80% were residents of Luhansk Oblast.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hin4kQeqCo |title=Артем Вітко: Треба було боротися за Крим |via=YouTube |archive-date=March 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325031220/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hin4kQeqCo |language=uk}} On August 10, another 200 volunteers were added to the battalion.{{Cite web |url=http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/ru/publish/article/1119689 |title=В Луганской области приняли присягу на верность украинскому народу 24 милиционера роты патрульной службы милиции особого назначения БПСМОП "Луганск — 1" |date=August 10, 2014 |publisher=Luhansk Oblast administration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224133419/http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/ru/publish/article/1119689 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 }}
According to the commander Artem Vitko, the battalion had only light arms in the early months, and only had basic equipment such as pistols, submachine guns, and light machine guns. In September, the battalion's equipment improved, adding weapons such as the RPG-7, AGS-17, and even BRDM-2 armored vehicles.
= War in Donbas =
On August 1, 2014, the battalion engaged in battle against pro-Russian militants in Severodonetsk, killing 15 of them.{{Cite web |url=http://news.liga.net/news/politics/2749755-batalon_lugansk_unichtozhil_15_terroristov_v_severodonetske.htm |title=Батальон "Луганск" уничтожил 15 террористов в Северодонецке |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804032241/http://news.liga.net/news/politics/2749755-batalon_lugansk_unichtozhil_15_terroristov_v_severodonetske.htm
|archive-date=August 4, 2014 |language=ru}} Later on August 27, "Luhansk-1" was part of a military operation to clear areas in Slovianoserbsk Raion, killing in total an estimate of 40 enemy soldiers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1379922-batalyon-lugansk-1-zi-spetspidrozdilami-zachistili-naseleni-punkti-slovyanoserbskogo-rayonu-znischeno-40-boyovikiv |title=Батальйон "Луганськ-1" зі спецпідрозділами зачистили населені пункти Слов'яносербського району: знищено 40 бойовиків |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101163325/http://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1379922-batalyon-lugansk-1-zi-spetspidrozdilami-zachistili-naseleni-punkti-slovyanoserbskogo-rayonu-znischeno-40-boyovikiv }}
On September 4, public activists donated an armored vehicle to the battalion to support their operations.{{Cite web |url=http://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1381939-aktivisti-peredadut-broneavtomobil-batalyonu-lugansk-1-divitsya-strim-unn |title=Активісти передадуть бронеавтомобіль батальйону "Луганськ-1" |archive-date=September 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904231140/http://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1381939-aktivisti-peredadut-broneavtomobil-batalyonu-lugansk-1-divitsya-strim-unn }}
On September 8, the battalion captured enemy positions near the city of Pervomaisk.{{Cite web |url=http://espreso.tv/news/2014/09/08/dobrovolci_zakhopyly_korektuvalnyka_boyovykiv |title=Добровольці захопили коректувальника бойовиків |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908224435/http://espreso.tv/news/2014/09/08/dobrovolci_zakhopyly_korektuvalnyka_boyovykiv }}
On October 31, the battalion announced the search for Mykhailo Porechenkov because of his efforts in helping pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.{{Cite web |url=http://espreso.tv/news/2014/10/31/batalyon_quotluhanskquot_polyuye_na_porechenkova |title=Батальйон "Луганськ" полює на Пореченкова |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031203350/http://espreso.tv/news/2014/10/31/batalyon_quotluhanskquot_polyuye_na_porechenkova }}
On May 20, 2020, Colonel Serhii Gubanov, the commander the battalion, received shrapnel wounds due to enemy shelling. He died while on the way to a hospital, near the village of Trokhizbenka.{{Cite web |url=https://ua.112.ua/ato/u-luhanskii-oblasti-na-zavdanni-zahynuv-kombat-batalionu-politsii-luhansk-1-serhii-hubanov-536741.html |title=У Луганській області на завданні загинув комбат батальйону поліції "Луганськ-1" Сергій Губанов |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530001345/https://ua.112.ua/ato/u-luhanskii-oblasti-na-zavdanni-zahynuv-kombat-batalionu-politsii-luhansk-1-serhii-hubanov-536741.html }}{{better source needed|date=September 2024}}
In September 2020, the personnel of the battalion was called up due to fires from enemy shelling in Luhansk Oblast.{{Cite web |url=http://vistilug.com.ua/news/8442-pozhezhi-na-luganshchini-osobovii-sklad-politsii-pidnyatii-po-trivozi/ |title=Пожежі на Луганщині: особовий склад поліції піднятий по тривозі |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120182923/http://vistilug.com.ua/news/8442-pozhezhi-na-luganshchini-osobovii-sklad-politsii-pidnyatii-po-trivozi/ }}
= Russian invasion of Ukraine =
On February 24, 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. The city of Shchastia, where the battalion was stationed in,{{cn|date=February 2025}} immediately came under attack. However, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and the city was soon occupied.{{Cite web |date=24 February 2022 |title=Battles against Russian occupiers ongoing near Shchastia, Sumy, Hostomel Airport |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3411711-battles-against-russian-occupiers-ongoing-near-shchastia-sumy-hostomel-airport.html |access-date= |website=Ukrinform |language=en}}
The battalion then moved to near the city of Severodonetsk to continue fighting. They also fought in nearby Kreminna and Rubizhne, before both also fell into Russian control.{{cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3460421-russian-invaders-take-control-of-kreminna-in-luhansk-region-haidai.html|title=Russian invaders take control of Kreminna in Luhansk region - Haidai|website=ukrinform.net|date=18 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-13-22#h_67faa3f08da188441de767341e390737 |title=Ukrainian forces lose foothold in eastern town|work=CNN|date=13 May 2022}}
Following eventual Ukrainian defeats at the battles at Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, the battalion was again redeployed, this time to help Ukrainian forces in the Battle of Bakhmut.
By September 2022, the battalion helped carry out the hugely successful Kharkiv counteroffensive, capturing villages including Balakliya, Verbivka, Novoselivka, and Stelmakhivka.{{Cite web |title=Командир батальйону "Луганськ-1" Олександр Твердохліб: "Росіяни не шкодують людей, незалежно від того, де ця людина служить. Укриття будують із трупів своїх товаришів по службі" |publisher=Censor.net |access-date=April 27, 2023 |language=uk |date=February 25, 2023|url=https://censor.net/ua/resonance/3400469/komandyr_batalyionu_lugansk1_oleksandr_tverdohlib_rosiyany_ne_shkoduyut_lyudeyi_nezalejno_vid_togo_de }}
In March 2023, the Luhansk-1 Battalion became part of the Liut Brigade.{{Cite web |url=https://v-variant.com.ua/batalyon-luhansk-1-ta-polky-spetspryznachennia-tsunami-ta-safari-ob-iednani-v-shturmovu-bryhadu-liut/ |title=Батальйон "Луганськ-1" та полки спецпризначення "Цунамі" та "Сафарі" об’єднані в штурмову бригаду "Лють" |date=March 6, 2023| website=v-variant.com.ua}} Then in October, the battalion was expanded into a regiment, gaining the current name Luhansk Assault Regiment.{{Cite web |title=Заступник командира штурмового батальйону №1 полку "Луганськ" Андрій Роженк |date=October 2, 2023 |publisher=National Police of Ukraine |url=https://lg.npu.gov.ua/news/politseiskym-luhanshchyny-rozpovily-bilsh-detalno-pro-spetspidrozdil-liut |language=uk}}
On December 28, 2023, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the work of the Liut Brigade, which the regiment is a part of. He specifically praised lieutenant Ivan Krotov and captain Mykhailo Glavatskyi for their battlefield bravery.{{Cite web |title=У своєму зверненні Президент відмітив воїнів бригади |publisher=Liut Brigade |date=December 28, 2023 |via=Facebook |url=https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0VpQwE6fZEn5dqv1Z8AJc4nj2fXJsJq98dtKur7RLY9oYqEt3QUL3zrWtYRxC53Ksl&id=100091908322507 }}
In the spring of 2024, the regiment were part of the Ukrainian forces defending the city of Chasiv Yar against Russian assaults.{{Cite web |title=Журналісти телеканалу Ми - Україна разом із заступником командира штурмового батальйону Штурмовий полк "Луганськ" ОШБ НПУ "Лють" на псевдо Шахматист потрапили під обстріл |date=May 29, 2024 |via=Facebook |publisher=Liut Brigade |url=https://www.facebook.com/npu.liut/videos/оборона-часового-яру-журналісти-телеканалу-ми-україна-разом-із-заступником-коман/865791035334721/ |language=uk}}