View source for 1st Air Force Combined Rifles Brigade (Ukraine)

{{Infobox Military Unit
| unit_name                     = 1st Air Force Combined Rifle Brigade (2023-)
----
"Wild Duck" Detachment (2014-2023)
| image                         = 1st Air Force Combined Rifle Brigade.png
| caption                       = Insignia of the Ukrainian 1st Air Force Combined Rifle Brigade
| dates                         = 1992 – present
| native_name             = Зведена стрілецька бригада Повітряних Сил
| country                       = {{UKR}}
| allegiance                    = {{UKR}}
| branch                        = {{air force|Ukraine}}
| type                          = [[Air force ground forces and special forces]]
| role                          = [[Aerial Assault]], [[infantry]], [[combat support]] and [[reconnaissance]]
| size                          = 200 personnel
| command_structure             = [[File:Command-pps.png|25px]] General Air Command
| garrison                      =
| garrison_label                =
| nickname                      = Polish Operatives {{efn|Given by soldiers of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] as most of its personnel during the [[Second Battle of Donetsk Airport]] came from [[Western Ukraine]] and had accents which sounded Polish which gave rise to rumors about the presence of Polish Special Operatives at the Airport, later the nickname was adopted by the detachment}}
| patron                        =
| motto                         =
| colors                        =
| colors_label                  =
| march                         =
| mascot                        =
| equipment                     =
| equipment_label               =
| battles                       = [[Russo-Ukrainian war]]
* [[War in Donbas]]
* [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
| anniversaries                 =
| decorations                   =
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander                  = Colonel Colonel Bohdan Bondar
| commander1_label              =
| commander2                    =
| commander2_label              =
| commander3                    =
| commander3_label              =
| notable_commanders            =
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Зведений загін ПС «Дика качка».png|200px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Former Insignia
| identification_symbol_2       =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
}}
The '''1st Air Force Combined Rifle Brigade''' is the one and only [[infantry]] brigade of the [[Ukrainian Air Force]]. It was initially established in 2014 as the "Wild Duck" detachment composed of troops from all the units of the [[Ukrainian Air Force]]. It is subordinated to the Air Force General Command and has seen intensive action throughout the [[War in Donbas]] and [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].
==History==
The formation of the "Wild Duck" detachment of [[Ukrainian Air Force]] began on 15 September 2014 in the city of [[Vasylkiv]] following the order of Colonel-General [[Yuriy Baydak]] on 12 September 12, 2014. Colonel Bohdan Bondary was appointed as the commander of the detachment,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://m.20minut.ua/Novyny-Kamianets-Podilskogo/lyudi/polkovnik-z-vinnici-prosivsya-v-ato-ryadovim-soldatom-10461309.html |title=Полковник з Вінниці просився в АТО рядовим солдатом |access-date=27 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817094016/http://m.20minut.ua/Novyny-Kamianets-Podilskogo/lyudi/polkovnik-z-vinnici-prosivsya-v-ato-ryadovim-soldatom-10461309.html |archive-date=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.myvin.com.ua/ru/news/events/30766.html У Василькові зустріли вінницьких військових з зони АТО]</ref><ref>[https://vn.20minut.ua/kriza-v-ukrayini/polkovnik-z-vinnici-prosivsya-v-ato-ryadovim-soldatom-10461309.html Полковник з Вінниці просився в АТО рядовим солдатом]</ref> Colonel Mykola Levytskyi was appointed as the detachment's deputy commander,<ref>[https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/247160462 До уваги військовослужбовців та членів їх сімей, які прибувають на материкову частину України з території АР Крим та м. Севастополь]</ref> and Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Berezin was appointed as the detachment's chief of staff.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Військовослужбовці Повітряних Сил повернулися до Вінниці із зони бойових дій|url=http://vinnitsaok.com.ua/archives/240701|website=Всі новини Вінниці|access-date=2023-11-30|language=uk}}</ref>
The detachment was deployed to take up the positions at the Zenit point after the withdrawal of the [[156th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|156th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Як українські зенітники в оточенні тримали оборону|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2021/04/09/yak-ukrayinski-zenitnyky-v-otochenni-trymaly-oboronu/|website=armyinform.com.ua|access-date=2023-11-30|language=uk}}</ref> as well as the entrance and above ground portion of the Butivka-Donetska mine,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://starkonnb.info/news/city/dika-kachka.html|title=Дика качка (додано фото)|language=uk|work=Starokostiantyniv|access-date=2017-03-28|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329141718/http://starkonnb.info/news/city/dika-kachka.html}}</ref> in order to reinforce the [[Donetsk Airport]] by providing defense to the northern approach to the airport.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ-Hu0F9HnA |title=Донецький аеропорт. «Дика качка» // YouTube |access-date=27 June 2016 |archive-date=13 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513222909/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ-Hu0F9HnA }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=«Нищив рашистів у складі „Дикої качки“, тепер навчаю цього підлеглих» — воїн «Фантом»|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/09/27/nyshhyv-rashystiv-u-skladi-dykoyi-kachky-teper-navchayu-czogo-pidleglyh-voyin-fantom/|website=armyinform.com.ua|access-date=2023-11-30|language=uk}}</ref>
On 23 August 2014, the detachment saw combat in the battle for the village of Lysiche, a battle in which the Ukrainian casualties were five killed and one missing but 86 Russian soldiers and separatists were killed.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Dima Putyat|title="Нас туда завели". Разбитая колонна НВФ в н.п. Лисичье. 23.08.14|date=2016-09-24|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyakyZXriI&feature=youtu.be&t=29m12s|access-date=2017-03-28|archive-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408024349/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyakyZXriI&feature=youtu.be&t=29m12s}}</ref>
The detachment arrived in the area where the operation was to be carried out and was stationed on the outskirts of [[Tonenke]] on 27 September 2014. On 29 September 2014, at 04:25, the detachment was fired upon by separatist [[BM-21 Grad]]s which destroyed two vehicles containing equipment and other stuff. Then, the detachment arrived at the Zenit position on 30 September 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Бойова авіація освоює стандарти НАТО|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2019/10/03/bojova-aviacziya-osvoyuye-standarty-nato/|website=armyinform.com.ua|access-date=2023-11-30|language=uk}}</ref> accompanied by the tanks and [[armored personnel carrier]]s of the [[93rd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)|93rd Mechanized Brigade]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://vn.20minut.ua/kriza-v-ukrayini/polkovnik-z-vinnitsi-prosivsya-v-ato-ryadovim-soldatom-10461309.html |title=Полковник з Вінниці просився в АТО рядовим солдатом. 14.09.2015 |access-date=2 May 2021 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502092758/https://vn.20minut.ua/kriza-v-ukrayini/polkovnik-z-vinnitsi-prosivsya-v-ato-ryadovim-soldatom-10461309.html }}</ref>
The detachment covered the northern approaches to Donetsk Airport and the first deployment lasted 45 days during October–November 2014 during which, with the exception of 2 November, the detachment wasn't attacked by separatist forces, unlike the regular attacks on Zenit position during the deployment of [[156th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|156th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment]].<ref name=":0"/> On 27 October 2014, a soldier of the detachment (Kostyshyn Yaroslav Myroslavovych) was killed by shelling on [[Avdiivka]] by separatist forces near the Donetsk Airport.<ref>[https://memorybook.org.ua/14/kostyshin.htm Костишин Ярослав Мирославович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027113356/https://memorybook.org.ua/14/kostyshin.htm |date=27 October 2021 }}</ref><ref>[https://ukraine-memorial.org/ua/biography/kostishin-yaroslav-miroslavovich/ Костишин Ярослав Мирославович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027113358/https://ukraine-memorial.org/ua/biography/kostishin-yaroslav-miroslavovich/ |date=27 October 2021 }}</ref><ref>[http://memory.ye.ua/Yaroslav_Kostyshyn Ярослав Костишин] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330171538/http://memory.ye.ua/Yaroslav_Kostyshyn |date=30 March 2015 }}</ref><ref>[https://timenote.info/ua/Jaroslav-Kostishin Костишин Ярослав] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027113358/https://timenote.info/ua/Jaroslav-Kostishin |date=27 October 2021 }}</ref>
On 22 January 2015, at 10 o'clock in the morning, a column of the separatist [[1st Slavyansk Brigade]], reinforced by 10 [[T-72]] tanks and an [[MT-12]] anti-tank battery moved towards the Donetsk Airport moved with Ukrainian recognizable tactical signs. Ihor Yemelyanov spotted their movement from the Zenit position.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://city-adm.lviv.ua/news/society/289875-misto-pryvitalo-viiskovykh-halytsko-volynskoi-radiotekhnichnoi-bryhady|title=Місто привітало військових Галицько-Волинської радіотехнічної бригади|author=Maria Demchyna|date=25 December 2021|website=city-adm.lviv.ua|publisher=Lviv City Council}}</ref><ref name="A"/> Colonel Oleksandr Turinskyi gave the order to fire from all available weapons, after 10 hours of intense battle the first column of separatists retreated followed by the second column. In the morning, the soldiers of the detachment captured the wounded and handed them over to the [[Security Service of Ukraine]]. In the battle, 50 separatists were killed and 7 were captured, in addition 2 [[BTR-80]]s and 4 [[MT-12]]s were also captured During the battle Ihor Yemelyanov personally destroyed seven [[BMP development|BMP]]s and armored personnel carriers and two [[Ural-4320]]s using [[Rocket Propelled Grenade|RPG]]s, inflicting heavy casualties.<ref name="A">{{Cite web|title=У бою за позицію «Зеніт» він зробив 24 постріли з гранатомета і 22 рази влучив|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2021/01/20/u-boyu-za-pozycziyu-zenit-vin-zrobyv-24-postrily-z-granatometa-i-22-razy-vluchyv/|website=armyinform.com.ua|access-date=2023-11-30|language=uk}}</ref> Moreover two personnel from the detachment (Vasyl Vasyliovych Petrenko<ref>[https://memorybook.org.ua/19/petrenkovas.htm Петренко Василь Васильович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213095424/https://memorybook.org.ua/19/petrenkovas.htm |date=13 February 2022 }}</ref><ref>[https://ukraine-memorial.org/ua/biography/petrenko-vasil-vasilovich/ Петренко Василь Васильович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213095420/https://ukraine-memorial.org/ua/biography/petrenko-vasil-vasilovich/ |date=13 February 2022 }}</ref> and Popovych Denys Grigoryovych<ref>[https://memorybook.org.ua/19/popovichdenis.htm Попович Денис Григорович («Денді»)]</ref>) were also killed during the battle in addition to the destruction of four
APCs, three BMPs, seven [[Ural-4320]]s, one Kraz, four Rapier guns and damage to two tanks of the Mechanized Brigade.<ref>{{Cite web|title=«Бій тривав вісім годин. На нас ішли 10 танків і піхота» – полковник «Німець»|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/27126836.html|website=Radio Svobada|access-date=2019-03-25|language=uk}}</ref>
The detachment also took part in the [[Battle of Avdiivka (2017)|Battle of Avdiivka]] and on 23 March 2015, during the mortar and tank shelling of Ukrainian positions in [[Opytne, Pokrovsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast|Opytne]] and [[Avdiivka]], a tank attacked the detachment's positions killing a soldier of the [[11th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|11th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment]] serving under the command of the detachment (Savitsky Yuri Mykolayovych) and wounding another.<ref>[http://memorybook.org.ua/21/savicky.htm Савіцький Юрій Миколайович («Партизан»)]</ref>
On 13 April 2015, during one of the attacks by separatists on the Zenit position near Avdiivka, the fragment of a 120-mm mine shell hit the ammunition boxes in the dugout and the resulting explosion killed five soldiers of the detachment (Oleksiy Anatoliyovych Vovchenko,<ref>[http://memorybook.org.ua/3/vovchenkooleks.htm Вовченко Олексій Анатолійович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520092348/http://memorybook.org.ua/3/vovchenkooleks.htm |date=20 May 2017 }}</ref> Dmytro Ivanovych Hura,<ref>[http://memorybook.org.ua/4/gura.htm Гура Дмитро Іванович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520093534/http://memorybook.org.ua/4/gura.htm |date=20 May 2017 }}</ref> Vasyl Mykolayovych Putanenko,<ref>[http://memorybook.org.ua/19/putanenko.htm Путаненко Василь Миколайович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520082439/http://memorybook.org.ua/19/putanenko.htm |date=20 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170823210744/http://www.krvk.com.ua/путаненко-василь-миколайович/ Путаненко Василь]</ref> Oleksandr Mykolayovych Tyshchenko<ref>[http://memorybook.org.ua/22/tishenkooleks.htm Тищенко Олександр Миколайович]</ref> and Bohdan Anatoliyovych Goncharenko<ref>[http://memorybook.org.ua/4/goncharenkobogdan.htm Гончаренко Богдан Анатолійович] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622035336/http://memorybook.org.ua/4/goncharenkobogdan.htm |date=22 June 2017 }}</ref>) who were taking cover.
Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the detachment was reformed into the 1st Combined Rifles Brigade of the [[Ukrainian Air Force]] in February 2023 and the reformation was officially confirmed on 26 June 2023,<ref name="Переформатування1">{{Cite web|title=Зведений загін «Дика качка» перетворився на стрілецьку бригаду Повітряних Сил|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2023/06/27/zvedenyj-zagin-dyka-kachka-peretvoryvsya-na-strileczku-brygadu-povitryanyh-syl/|website=armyinform.com.ua|access-date=2023-11-30|language=uk}}</ref> the brigade was already serving on the frontlines in [[Donetsk Oblast]] and also saw combat during the [[2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive]] for which fifteen personnel of the regiment received state awards.<ref name="Переформатування2">{{Cite web|title=Повітряні Сили відправили у бій зведену стрілецьку бригаду|url=https://www.ukrmilitary.com/2023/06/dyka-kachka-brigade.html|date=2023-06-27|access-date=2023-11-30}}</ref>
On 9 September 2024, a soldier of the brigade (Muravsky Vadim Anatoliyovych) was killed in combat on the frontlines.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9rJgXbsDfo Герої АТО Вадим Муравський і Ігор Ємєльянов]
</ref><ref>[http://galtv.if.ua/news/view/2016/03/25/7669/ Мужні герої]</ref><ref>[https://suspilne.media/lviv/835267-13-veresna-na-lvivsini-poprosautsa-z-simoma-vijskovimi/ 13 вересня на Львівщині попрощаються з імома військовими]</ref><ref>[https://galinfo.com.ua/news/sogodni_lvivshchyna_proshchaietsya_iz_simoma_zahysnykamy_424036.html Сьогодні Львівщина прощається із сімома захисниками]</ref>
==Commanders==
===Wild Duck Detachment===
* '''1st Deployment:'''
** Commander: Colonel Bohdan Bondar
** Chief of Staff Oleksandr Berezin
* '''5th Deployment:'''
** Commander: Colonel Vyacheslav Khlopyachi<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2018/11/05/yakist-pidgotovki-fahivcziv-povitryanih-sil-polipshuyut-vikoristovuyuchi-tehnologii-virtualnoi-realnosti/ |title=Якість підготовки фахівців Повітряних Сил поліпшують, використовуючи технології віртуальної реальності |access-date=22 February 2020 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222121945/http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2018/11/05/yakist-pidgotovki-fahivcziv-povitryanih-sil-polipshuyut-vikoristovuyuchi-tehnologii-virtualnoi-realnosti/ }}</ref>
** Chief of Staff: Kostiantyn Gerasimov
* '''6th Deployment:'''
** Commander: Colonel Ihor Levchuk
** Chief of Staff: Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Misyura
* '''7th Deployment:'''
** Commander: Colonel Taiga
** Chief of Staff: Colonel Igor Chikin
===1st Combined Rifles Brigade===
* Colonel Bohdan Bondar (2023-)
==Sources==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122331/https://vindaily.info/kak-vinnitskiye-letchiki-dikikh-utok-na-front-posylali.html Как винницкие летчики «Диких уток» на фронт посылали]
* http://censor.net.ua/resonance/322733/bez_raznitsy_aeroport_gorod_selo_ili_kusok_polya_svoyu_zemlyu_nujno_zaschischat_starshina_brigady_takticheskoyi {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818181948/http://censor.net.ua/resonance/322733/bez_raznitsy_aeroport_gorod_selo_ili_kusok_polya_svoyu_zemlyu_nujno_zaschischat_starshina_brigady_takticheskoyi |date=18 August 2016 }}
* [http://starkonnb.info/news/city/zagin-dika-kachka-prodovzhennya.html Загін «Дика качка» (продовження)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807032230/http://starkonnb.info/news/city/zagin-dika-kachka-prodovzhennya.html |date=7 August 2016 }}
* [http://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/27126836.html «Бій тривав вісім годин. На нас ішли 10 танків і піхота»&nbsp;— полковник «Німець» ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424000259/http://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/27126836.html |date=24 April 2017 }}
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Air force brigades of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1992]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Ukraine]]