Storm Ossetia
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Storm Ossetia
| native_name = Шторм.Осетия
| image_size = 200px
| dates = 2022 – 19 June 2023
? – Present
| country = {{flagcountry|Russia}}
| allegiance = Russian Armed Forces
| branch = 429th Motorized Rifle Regiment, 19th Motor Rifle Divisionhttps://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-5-2025
| size = 300 (peak)
| role = Militia
| battles = Russian invasion of Ukraine
| notable_commanders = Ayvengo Tekhov{{KIA}}
| identification_symbol = 200px
| identification_symbol_label = Flag
}}
Storm Ossetia is a North Ossetian militia in service to the Russian Armed Forces raised from volunteers from North Ossetia–Alania during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
History
{{Expand section|with=history prior to counteroffensive|small=no|date=June 2023}}
On 11 June 2023, it was reported that volunteer units made up a portion of the Russian front line during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, including Storm Ossetia, as well as another North Ossetian unit "Alania", and two Russian units "Crimea" and "Sarmat." These units were tasked with holding the front-line around the village of Lobkove, but were unable to do so, retreating to pre-prepared positions and leaving the village in Ukrainian hands.{{cite web |last1=Stepanenko |first1=Kateryna |last2=Bailey |first2=Riley |last3=Wolkov |first3=Nicole |last4=Barros |first4=George |last5=Clark |first5=Mason |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 13, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-13-2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=19 June 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Mappes |first1=Grace |last2=Wolkov |first2=Nicole |last3=Stepanenko |first3=Kateryna |last4=Barros |first4=George |last5=Clark |first5=Mason |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 11, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-11-2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=19 June 2023}}
The unit was then tasked to hold the village of Piatykhatky just south of Lobkove. The unit was able to hold onto the village for five days, repelling two attempts by Ukrainian forces to storm their positions.{{cite web |title=The Russian army repelled two attempts to break through the Ukrainian armed forces in the direction of Zaporizhzhia in five days |url=https://www.easternherald.com/2023/03/23/the-russian-army-repelled-two-attempts-to-break-through-the-ukrainian-armed-forces-in-the-direction-of-zaporizhzhia-in-five-days/ |website=easternherald.com |date=23 March 2023 |access-date=19 June 2023}} However, their position was deemed untenable and were given orders to retreat again to other pre-prepared positions. During the chaos of the retreat out of Piatykhatky on 19 June, the unit found itself encircled by the advancing Ukrainian forces. The 300-man battalion was reported to have been "liquidated" to the last fighter, including their deputy commander Ayvengo Tekhov.{{cite web |title=Day 481 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Kyiv forces retake 8 Settlements in Southern Ukraine |url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/220557/Day+481+of+the+Invasion+of+Ukraine%3A+Kyiv+forces+retake+8+Settlements+in+Southern+Ukraine |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=novinite}}{{cite web |last1=Zhernovskaya |first1=Ludmila |title=In Ukraine, the deputy commander of the battalion "Storm. Ossetia" was eliminated |url=https://ukrainetoday.org/2023/06/19/in-ukraine-the-deputy-commander-of-the-battalion-storm-ossetia-was-eliminated/ |website=Ukraine Today |date=19 June 2023 |access-date=19 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=AFU Encircle, Liquidate 'Storm.Ossetia' Battalion Near Pyatikhatki |url=https://charter97.org/en/news/2023/6/19/552478/ |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=Charter 97}}{{cite web |title=Frontline report: Ukrainians destroy 300 Russian troops on Zaporizhzhian front; intense fighting in Zherebianka |url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/06/20/frontline-report-ukrainians-destroy-300-russian-troops-in-piatykhatky-intense-fighting-in-zherebianka/ |website=Euromaidan Press |date=20 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Deputy commander and entire battalion of Russian troops from South Ossetia killed in south Ukraine |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/deputy-commander-entire-battalion-russian-095500918.html |website=The New Voice of Ukraine |date=20 June 2023 |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=22 June 2023}}
The unit's Telegram account denied the unit took any casualties, and re-posted old photos of the unit as "proof." However, Russian officials held a memorial for the unit in Vladikavkaz, where they mourned the unit which decided to stand “to the last.”{{cite web |title=Russia Recognized Defeat Of Storm.Ossetia Battalion Near Zaporizhzhia|url=https://charter97.org/en/news/2023/6/23/553080/ |website=Charter97 |access-date=5 July 2023}}
The battalion's remnants, mostly consisting of their officers, support and media team were absorbed into the "Alania" volunteer battalion, which Storm Ossetia had fought alongside during the counteroffensive.{{cite web |last1=Stepanenko |first1=Kateryna |last2=Wolkov |first2=Nicole |last3=Evans |first3=Angelica |last4=Harward |first4=Christina |last5=Kagan |first5=Frederick W. |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 29, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-August-29-2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=12 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Riley |last2=Stepanenko |first2=Kateryna |last3=Evans |first3=Angelica |last4=Mappes |first4=Grace |last5=Ganzeveld |first5=Annika |last6=Clark |first6=Mason |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 8, 2023 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-8-2023 |website=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=12 September 2023}}
On January 5 2025, the HUR issued a report claiming that the Ukrainian Kraken Unit killed the chief of staff of the Battalion, Sergei Melnikov, and his driver using drones along the Vasylivka-Tokmak highway in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-05 |title=Russian Storm Ossetia battalion chief of staff killed in Ukrainian drone attack, military intelligence claims |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russian-storm-ossetia-battalion-chief-of-staff-killed-in-ukrainian-drone-attack-military-intelligence-claims/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=HUR eliminates chief of staff of Storm Ossetia battalion in Zaporizhzhya Oblast |url=https://english.nv.ua/nation/kraken-unit-eliminates-russian-chief-of-staff-sergey-melnikov-in-zaporizhzhya-oblast-on-dec-29-50479217.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=New Voice |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zoria |first=Yuri |date=2025-01-05 |title=Ukrainian intelligence eliminates Russian battalion commander in southern Ukraine (video) |url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/01/05/ukrainian-intelligence-eliminates-russian-battalion-commander-in-southern-ukraine-video/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Euromaidan Press |language=en-US}}
Commanders
- Ayvengo Tekhov ({{langx|os|Тъехты Aйвенго}}, 1991-2023){{KIA}}.
- Sergei Melnikov (2023-2024){{KIA}}.{{Cite web |last=Zoria |first=Yuri |date=2025-01-05 |title=Ukrainian intelligence eliminates Russian battalion commander in southern Ukraine (video) |url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/01/05/ukrainian-intelligence-eliminates-russian-battalion-commander-in-southern-ukraine-video/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Euromaidan Press |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Pro-Russian militant groups
Category:Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Category:Military units and formations established in 2022
Category:2022 establishments in Russia
Category:People from North Ossetia–Alania
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2023