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15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade (Ukraine)

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15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade

15th Rocket Artillery Regiment (2003-2022)

337th Rocket Artillery Brigade (1989-2003)
15-та окрема бригада артилерійської розвідки «Чорний ліс»
Founded6 August 1942
Country Soviet Union (1942–1991)
 Ukraine (since 1992)
Allegiance Armed Forces of Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
Type Rocket and Artillery Forces
RoleArtillery and Reconnaissance
SizeBrigade
Part of Operational Command West
Garrison/HQDrogobych, Lviv Oblast
NicknameBlack Forest
Mottos"Lightning Fast and Accurate"
Colours
Engagements
Decorations
For Courage and Bravery
WebsiteWebsite
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Alexander Popov
Insignia
Former Insignia

The 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade "Black Forest" (MUN A1108) is an artillery and reconnaissance Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces directly subordinated to the Ground Forces command but is currently operationally subordinated to the Operational Command West. It operates a variety of artillery and drone systems including western, indigenous and Soviet era weapons.

History

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On 24 August 1991, the 337th Rocket Artillery Brigade of the Red Army was subordinated to Ukraine following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and took the oath of allegiance to Ukraine on 12 December 1991. In 1998, the first rocket artillery division "Smerch" of the 337th rocket artillery brigade carried out combat launches at the Chauda military training ground.

On 20 August 2003, it became 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment and was recognized as the best unit of the Operational Command West. In 2008, the 1st Rocket Artillery Division of the 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment performed live fire training at the Chauda military training ground. On 4 May 2006, the regiment was awarded a Battle Banner. On 21 August 2008, it received the honorary title of "Drohobych".[1] In June 2012, the regiment's personnel took part in the 20th review-competition for the best organization of physical training and sports in the Armed Forces of Ukraine performing in over a hundred categories and took the first spot.

Russo-Ukrainian war

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See also: Russo-Ukrainian war

Since April 2014, the 15th Guards Rocket Artillery Regiment has been involved in the War in Donbass.[2] On 26 August 2014, a soldier of the regiment, Komar Yuri Igorovich was killed as a result of a firearms attack on a travelling convoy near Heorhiivka, Luhansk Oblast.[3] On 18 November 2015, all Soviet awards and references were stripped from the regiment's title.[4] Two units of the AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar were transferred to the regiment on 17 August 2018.[5]

Video showing the destruction the two S-400 on 14 December 2025

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it saw direct combat against Russian forces. On 7 July 2022, a soldier of the brigade, Bordun Ivan was killed by Russian artillery shelling shelling near Siversk during the Battle of Bakhmut.[6] In September 2022, it was participating in the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive.[7]

The recon elements of the Brigade have been observed using Shark drones to guide British Storm Shadow missiles into targets and was able to destroy a Russian platoon command post.[8]

On 4 December 2024 the unit was awarded the honorary award For Courage and Bravery by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[9]

On November 16, 2024, the unit attacked a concentration of Russian troops, approximately 30–40 men, near Tavria. The strike was carried out using M142 HIMARS missiles, and the troop concentration had been previously reconnoitered by a drone from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade. More than 20 Russian soldiers were reported killed. Shortly afterward, as additional troops arrived to evacuate the wounded, the brigade conducted a double tap strike using cluster munitions to maximize casualties.[10]

List of destroyed Systems

[edit]
Type Role Note Date
S-300
S-350
S-400
9K37 Buk 		SAM Around 30 Systems destroyed[11] 2022–2023
Leer-2 EW Destroyed, most likely by HIMARS[12][11] 28 August 2023
Predel-E RADAR
9K330 Tor SAM Destroyed[13] 20 January 2024
BM-21 MLRS Multiple BM-21 Destroyed in Luhansk Oblast[14] January 2024
Podlet-1K RADAR Spotted in cooperation with Kabul 9 and destroyed by WB-Electronics-Warmate[15] 27 April 2024
Supercam S350 UAV Destroyed with crew[16] 4 July 2024
1K148 Yastreb-AW RADAR Destroyed by HIMARS[17] 8 September 2024
Zoopark-1M RADAR Destroyed by HIMARS or M270.[18] 12 December 2024
Pansir S-1 SAM Destroyed by HIMARS[19][20] 31 December 2024
96L6E RADAR 96L6E RADAR of a S-300-Battery destroyed[21] 27 January 2025
S-350 SAM Destroyed[22] 16 February 2025
9S36 RADAR 9S36 RADAR for Buk destroyed[23] 12 March 2025
Buk-M1 SAM Destroyed[24] 21 March 2025
R-330Zh Zhitel EW Damaged or destroyed[25] 24 March 2025
9A316 Rearm
SAM 		9A316 rearming vehicle for Buk-2M destroyed by drone[26] 6 April 2025
BM-27 Uragan MLRS Destroyed with GMLRS via HIMARS[27] 16 April 2025
Buk-M2
9A316 		SAM
Rearm 		A launcher and a rearming vehicle destroyed[28] 21 April 2025
Buk-M3 SAM Destroyed[29] 1 May 2025
Buk-M1 SAM Destroyed[30] 7 May 2025
Buk-M1 SAM Destroyed[31] 16 May 2025
Buk-M3 SAM Destroyed[32] 24 May 2025
Tor-M2 SAM Destroyed by rocket double strike[33][34] 31 May 2025
Zoopark-1M RADAR Damaged or destroyed[35] 4 June 2025
2S7 Pion SPH Destroyed[36] 12 June 2025
Buk-M1 SAM Destroyed by the 413th Regiment of Unmanned Systems, assisted by the 15th brigade[37] 8 July 2025
Buk-M3 SAM Damaged or destroyed by drone[38] 13 July 2025
D-30 Howitzer Destroyed[39] 22 August 2025
Buk-M2 SAM Destroyed[40] 5 September 2025
Buk-M2 SAM Destroyed[41] 17 September 2025
Buk-M3 SAM Destroyed[42][43] 25 Oktober 2025
Buk-M3 SAM Destroyed by drone[44] 4 November 2025
T-90 Tank Damaged or destroyed by drone[45] 14 November 2025
D-30 Howitzer
S-400 SAM 2 Launchers of a S-400 System destroyed, most likely part of the 568th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment[46] 14 December 2025
Buk-M2 SAM Destroyed by drone[47] 17. December 2025
Torf-S RADAR Destroyed[48] 14 January 2026
D-30 Howitzer Gun and crew destroyed by cluster munition[49] 6 February 2026
Pantsir-S1 SAM Destroyed by drone[50] 28 February 2026
Osa SAM Damaged or destroyed by drone[51] 19 March 2026
Buk-M2 SAM Damaged or destroyed by drone[52] 29 March 2026
Zoopark-1M RADAR Destroyed by drone[53] 5 April 2026
S-300V SAM Launcher und command system of a S-300V destroyed by Lasar's Group assisted by air reconnaissance by the 15th brigade[54] 10 April 2026

Equipment

[edit]
Model Image Origin Type Number Details
Artillery
BM-30 Smerch Soviet Union Heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher 5+ [55]
M142 HIMARS United States Light multiple rocket launcher [10]
M270 MLRS United States Armored self-propelled multiple launch rocket system [18]
Armored vehicles
BRDM-2 Soviet Union Amphibious armoured reconnaissance vehicle
RADARs
AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radar United States Counter battery mobile radar 2 [5]
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma United States Surveillance and intelligence electro-optical UAV [8]
DJI Mavic  China FPV drone [56]
DeViRo Leleka-100
("Stork") 		Ukraine Air reconnaissance/loitering munition [56]
Athlon Avia A1-CM Furia Ukraine Air reconnaissance [56]
ASU-1 Valkyrie Ukraine Air reconnaissance [56]
Ukrspecsystems Shark Ukraine Air reconnaissance [56]
Ukrspecsystems Mini Shark Ukraine Air reconnaissance [56]
Tekever AR3 Portugal Autonomous VTOL ISTAR craft [57]

Commanders

[edit]
  • Colonel Hryhoriy Demyanchyk (2012–2020)[58]
  • Colonel Oleksandr Popov (2022-)[59]
[edit]

Until 2022, before becoming a brigade, the old sleeve insignia of the 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment depicted a shield with a dragon's head, surmounted by a small State Emblem of Ukraine, against a background of crossed cannon barrels. The dragon's head represents the power of missiles.[60]

In July 2022, singer Viktor Vynnyk wrote the brigade's march, and presented it in his performance on 11 September.[61]

See also

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade (Ukraine).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "15 реактивний артилерійський, Дрогобицький, Київський, орденів Леніна, Червоного прапора, Богдана Хмельницького, Олександра Невського полк". Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Українські військові вдячні усім за підтримку та просять вірити у нашу перемогу". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  3. ^ Комар Юрій Ігорович Archived 20 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Указ Президента". Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b "США передали ЗСУ дві контрбатарейні РЛС AN/TPQ-36". Ukrainian Military Pages. 2018-08-17. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  6. ^ У бою біля Сіверська загинув захисник України зі Львівщини Іван Бордун. 11.07.2022, 16:50
  7. ^ Відповімо терористам на кожну їхню підлість, на кожну ракету — ми це можемо — звернення Президента України.
  8. ^ a b "Ukrainian Black Forest Brigade uses drones to a lethal test". The Times. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  9. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №804/2024". President of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 4 December 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  10. ^ a b "HIMARS вдарив по скупченню російських військових на Запоріжжі". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
  11. ^ a b "Black Forest brigade's aerial reconnaissance unit destroys entire Russian air defence regiment – videos". Ukrainska Pravda. 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  12. ^ "Russian secret USD200Mn Predel-E coastal RADAR destroyed by Ukrainian strike near Crimea". 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
  13. ^ "Ukrainian forces take down Russian Tor system in daring drone operation — video". The new voice of Ukraine. 2024-01-20. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  14. ^ "Бригада "Чорний ліс" уразила значну кількість "Градів" росіян". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ^ "Дрони-камікадзе уразили елементи російської РЛС 48Я6-К1 «Подлет»". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  16. ^ "Біля Варварівки ЗСУ уразили операторів дрона Supercam". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  17. ^ "Ukrainian Defense Forces Destroy Russian Yastrub-AV Artillery Reconnaissance System with HIMARS MLRS. VIDEO". Censor.NET. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  18. ^ a b "Ukrainian Armed Forces rocket artillery hits Zoopark-M1 RADAR". Militarnyi. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  19. ^ "HIMARS знищив російський "Панцирь" у Донецьку". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 2025-01-03. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  20. ^ З Новим Роком від Чорного Лісу! on YouTube
  21. ^ "Ukrainian "Black Forest" Brigade Destroys Russian RADAR While Moving on the Battlefield". Koha. 2025-01-27. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  22. ^ "Ukrainian soldiers destroy Russia's latest anti-aircraft missile worth US$135 million – video". Ukrainska Pravda. 2025-02-17. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  23. ^ "How Ukraine Defends Against Russia's Invisible Onslaught of Electronic Warfare". United24. 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  24. ^ "Ukrainian Forces Destroy $10 Million Russian Buk-M1 Missile System in the East, Video". United24. 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  25. ^ Виявлення та знищення системи РЕБ «Житель» on YouTube
  26. ^ "Defense Forces Drone Strikes Russian Buk System". Militarnyi. 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  27. ^ "HIMARS vs. Uragan: US precision-guided missiles outmatch Russian launchers". Militarnyi. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  28. ^ "Ukrainian Forces Destroy russian Buk-M2 Air Defense System with Accurate Targeting and Swift Execution (Video)". Defense Express. 2025-04-22. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  29. ^ "Ukrainian Recon Unmasks and Destroys Russia's $45M Buk-M3 Air Defense System, Video". United24. 2025-05-02. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  30. ^ Мінус ЗРК «Бук-М1» ворога. Працює «Чорний ліс» on YouTube
  31. ^ Виявлення та знищення ворожого ЗРК «Бук-М1» on YouTube
  32. ^ "Ukrainian reconnaissance troops post video of latest Russian Buk-M3 air defence system being destroyed". Ukrainska Pravda. 2025-05-24. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  33. ^ "Another expensive anti-aircraft missile system "Tor-M2" of the occupiers has been destroyed". UNN. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  34. ^ Виявлення і знищення ворожого ЗРК «Тор-М2». Працює «Чорний ліс» on YouTube
  35. ^ Знищення РЛС «Зоопарк-1М». Працює «Чорний ліс» on YouTube
  36. ^ Виявлення та знищення російської САУ 2С7 «Піон» on YouTube
  37. ^ "Raid Battalion Strikes Buk-M1 Missile System". Militarnyi. 2025-07-09. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  38. ^ "Ukrainian recon troops destroy Russian Buk-M3 air defense system". Ukrinform. 2025-07-13. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  39. ^ Виявлення та знищення гармати ворога та її розрахунку. Працює Чорний ліс on YouTube
  40. ^ "Soldiers of 15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade destroyed enemy's Buk-M2 air defence missile system. VIDEO". Censor.NET. 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  41. ^ Мінус пускова установка «ЗРК Бук-М2» ворога з детонацією БК on YouTube
  42. ^ "Ukraine Destroyed russisches Buk-Luftabwehrsystem im Wert von 45 Millionen Dollar". Focus Online. 2025-10-27. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  43. ^ Мінус пускова установка новітнього російського ЗРК «Бук-М3» on YouTube
  44. ^ "Ukraines kamikaze drone strike-destroyed russias buk-m3 missile". 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  45. ^ Мінус російські гармата та танк on YouTube
  46. ^ "Ukrainian Drones Destroyed Two S-400 Launchers in Belgorod Region". Militarnyi. 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  47. ^ Мінус ще один російський ЗРК "Бук-М2". Працює "Чорний ліс" on YouTube
  48. ^ "Ukraine Punches a Hole in Russia's Battlefield Command System, Knocking Out Rare Russian Torf-S Station". United24. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  49. ^ Мінус гармата ворога з її розрахунком. Працює "Чорний ліс" on YouTube
  50. ^ "Ukrainian Forces Destroy Pantsir S1 in Belgorod Region". Mezha. 2026-02-28. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  51. ^ "Another strike hits enemy air defenses: "Osa" SAM destroyed. This system is widely used by Russian forces near the frontlines". Defense of Ukraine auf X. 2026-03-19. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  52. ^ Мінус пускова установка російського ЗРК «Бук-М2» on YouTube
  53. ^ "Unknown Kamikaze Drone Hits Russian Zoopark-1M RADAR". Militarnyi. 2026-04-05. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  54. ^ "Ukrainian forces destroy Russian S-300 missile system and drone command post – video". Ukrainska Pravda. 2026-04-10. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  55. ^ "Дрогобицькі артилеристи готові до реформ". Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  56. ^ a b c d e f "Очі богів. Як артрозвідка ЗСУ зробила стрибок до знищення "аналаговнету" та "С-400"". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 2024-11-23. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  57. ^ https://x.com/TEKEVER/status/1868985881799147621
  58. ^ Zaxid.net. "Командир військової частини у Дрогобичі використовував солдатів на будівництві свого будинку". ZAXID.NET (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  59. ^ "Комбриг 15 бригади артрозвідки: Ми нищимо комплекси, де кожна плата, як злиток платини намазаний чорною ікрою". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  60. ^ "Символи «бога війни»". Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014. Archived 2014-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
  61. ^ Віктор Винник — Марш 15-ї окремої бригади артилерійської розвідки ЗСУ

Sources

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