Steel Border Brigade
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 15th Mobile Border Guard Detachment "Steel Border"
| native_name = {{native name|uk|15-й мобільний прикордонний загін "Сталевий кордон"}}
| image = 15th Stalevy Kordon Brigade.png
| image_size =
| caption = Brigade Insignia
| start_date = {{Start date|2023}}
| country = {{flag|Ukraine}}
| allegiance = 20px Ministry of Internal Affairs
| branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.svg}} State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
| type = Brigade
| role = Mechanized Infantry
| size =
| command_structure = {{flagicon image|Flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.svg}} Offensive Guard, SBSGU
| garrison =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = First at the Border, First in the Offensive
| colors =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| battles = Russo-Ukrainian war
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| current_commander = Colonel Kostiantyn Bezpalko
| notable_commanders = Colonel Valerii Padytel
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label = Former Insignia
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_3 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
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}}
The Steel Border Brigade[https://explainer.ua/strong-gvardiya-nastupu-yak-nabyrayut-bijtsiv-vymogy-zarplata-ta-pilgy-strong/ «Гвардія наступу»: як набирають бійців, вимоги, зарплата та пільги]{{Cite web|title=ЧАС ПОВЕРТАТИ СВОЄ|url=https://storm.mvs.gov.ua/|website=storm.mvs.gov.ua|accessdate=2023-05-03|language=uk|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419060334/https://storm.mvs.gov.ua/|archivedate=2023-04-19}} also known as the 15th Mobile Border Guard Detachment "Steel Border"{{Cite web|url=https://storm.mvs.gov.ua/|title=ЧАС ПОВЕРТАТИ СВОЄ|date=3 February 2023|website=storm.mvs.gov.ua/|publisher=The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine|accessdate=6 February 2023}} ({{langx|uk|Сталевий кордон|Stalevyi Kordon}}) is an assault brigade of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and part of the Offensive Guard.
History
The military unit was created in January 2023 as part of the Offensive Guard, recruitment campaign of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Thousands of candidates apply to Offensive Guard on first day, recruitment continues |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/02/6/7388085/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}} The brigade was formed from the servicemen who fought in the Azovstal plant (Mariupol), Lyman, and Bakhmut{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=President visited combat brigades in Kharkiv region and held a meeting on the security situation |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-vidvidav-bojovi-brigadi-na-harkivshini-ta-proviv-n-86069 |website=President of Ukraine / Official website}} and includes artillery units equipped with cannons and MLRS, UAV units, aerial reconnaissance groups and MANPADS as well as sniper and assault units.{{Cite news |last=Ishchenko |first=Anna |date=2024-07-24 |title=Рекрутинг та відновлення на Черкащині: як працюють прикордонники загону "Сталевий кордон" |url=https://suspilne.media/cherkasy/796837-rekruting-ta-vidnovlenna-na-cerkasini-ak-pracuut-prikordonniki-zagonu-stalevij-kordon/ |work=Suspilne Cherkasy}}{{Cite web|title=«Сталевий кордон» не дуже типовий для ДПСУ, однак зараз найбільш затребуваний – полковник Андрій Лущик - Головне за день - ТРК ПЕРШИЙ ЗАХІДНИЙ|url=https://1zahid.com/news/stalevyj-kordon-ne-duzhe-typovyj-dlya-dpsu-odnak-zaraz-najbilsh-zatrebuvanyj-polkovnyk-andrij-lushhyk/|website=Перший західний|date=2023-02-21|accessdate=2023-02-26|language=uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://odrda.od.gov.ua/2023/02/22/burevij-stalevyj-kordon-lyut-hto-vhodyt-u-gvardiyu-nastupu/|title=“Буревій”, “Сталевий кордон”, “Лють”: хто входить у “Гвардію наступу”?|date=22 February 2023|language=uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://vikna.tv/video/ukrayina/stalevyj-kordon-shturmova-brygada-dpsu-shho-cze/|title=Сталевий кордон: що це за штурмова бригада, які завдання виконуватиме та хто може приєднатися|last=Макалюк|first=Богдана|date=7 February 2023}} The first commander of Steel Border was Colonel Valerii Padytel, who was captured by Russian forces after the Azovstal steel plant siege in Mariupol and was released from captivity in September 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Командувати штурмовою бригадою "Сталевий кордон" буде звільнений з полону захисник Маріуполя Падитель. Відеоінтервʼю із ним (відео) |url=https://lb.ua/society/2023/03/17/549178_komanduvati_shturmovoyu_brigadoyu.html |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=LB.ua}} On 24 February 2023, the brigade received a combat flag.{{cite web |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3674493-zelenskij-vruciv-nagorodi-ta-bojovi-prapori-vijskovim.html |title=Зеленський вручив нагороди та бойові прапори військовим |author= |date=2023-02-24 |website=ukrinform.ua/ |publisher=UkrInform |accessdate=24 February 2023}}
In April 2023, over 7,000 volunteers applied to join Steel Border{{Cite web |last=m.volodina |date=2023-04-05 |title=Over 7 thousand volunteer applications have been submitted to the Border of Steel Guard Service |url=https://mediacenter.org.ua/over-7-thousand-volunteer-applications-have-been-submitted-to-the-border-of-steel-guard-service/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Media Center Ukraine |language=en-US}} and the whole Offensive Guard aimed to recruit 40,000 personnel to become the main assault unit of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.{{Cite news |last=Karazy |first=Sergiy |last2=Dabrowska |first2=Anna |date=2023-04-22 |title=Ukraine trains 40,000 storm brigade troops for counter-offensive |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-trains-40000-storm-brigade-troops-counter-offensive-2023-04-05/ |work=Reuters}} On 29 October 2023, a guardsman of the brigade (Andriy Petrovych Sheverdin) was killed under undisclosed circumstances.[https://usionline.com/na-fronti-zahynuly-dvoie-zakhysnykiv-ukrainy-z-chornomorska-foto/ На фронті загинули двоє захисників України з Чорноморська (фото)] On 14 November 2023, an officer of the brigade (Efrosynenko Andriy Vasyliovych) was killed in combat in Kharkiv Oblast{{Cite web|url=http://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/news/u-boyah-za-nezalezhnist-ukraini-zaginuv-prikordonnik-pidpolkovnik-andriy-frosinenko/|title=У боях за Незалежність України загинув прикордонник – підполковник Андрій Єфросиненко|website=Державна прикордонна служба України|language=en|access-date=2024-07-09}} and was posthumously awarded the "Hero of Ukraine" for his actions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/3902024-51141|title=Указ президента України №390/2024}}
On 21 January 2024, a guardsman of the brigade (Mazur Oleg Anatoliyovych) was killed in combat in the village of {{ill|Nesterne|uk|Нестерне}}, near Vovchansk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.victims.memorial/people/oleh-mazur01|title=Олег Мазур|website=Платформа пам'яті Меморіал}} On 21 March 2024, it received the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery".{{Cite web|date=21 March 2024|title=Про відзначення почесною відзнакою «За мужність та відвагу»|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/1652024-50125}}
Commanders
- Colonel Valerii Padytel (2023)
- Colonel Kostiantyn Bezpalko (2024)