"For mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage shown in the fighting to defend the Fatherland." These are the words from the decree of the President of Russia, in which two parts of the Russian Armed Forces were awarded the ranks of guards at once. We are talking about units that have already played a crucial role in conducting a special operation in Ukraine.
By decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the honorary names "Guards" were assigned to two formations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – the 126th separate Coastal Defense Brigade and the 155th separate Marine Brigade. The wording is "for mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage shown by personnel in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts."
The Russian Guard has long-standing origins and traditions, it was possible to get into them by service affiliation and by military merit. The latter is the most honorable.
The Soviet Guard was born in July 1941, when three divisions of the People's Militia received these honorary titles. The 71st Naval Rifle Brigade became the first in the Guards Navy on January 5, 1942 – the Germans called it the "black death" for the black-and-white vests and black caps that the soldiers wore before the battle. In total, by the end of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet Guard included over 4,500 units, ships, formations and associations. Many of them still bear this name.
In the post-war period, the ranks of guards military formations in the Soviet Union were not assigned. In 2000, in connection with the 300th anniversary of the Russian Guard, the Day of the Russian Guard was established, celebrated on September 2, and the first unit to be awarded the title of "Guards" was the 22nd separate Special Purpose Brigade - for successful actions in Chechnya. On March 25, 2015, the 11th, 83rd separate Airborne assault brigades and the 38th separate Communications Regiment received this title.
At the beginning of 2018, the 810th separate Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy also received this honorary name for participating in a military operation in Syria. In the same year, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its formation, the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after Hero of the Soviet Union General V. F. Margelov was awarded the honorary name "Guards".
And now two formations at once – the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade from the Southern Military District, based in Crimea, and the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy receive such an honorary name. The title "Guards" is not given out just like that, it needs to be earned by mass courage and heroism. For personal exploits - stars of Heroes, Orders of Courage, medals "For Bravery", the title "Guards" - this is collective heroism. This is what the presidential decree says - "for mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage shown in combat operations to protect the Fatherland."
"We do not yet know all the nuances of the special military operation being carried out in Ukraine, we do not know all its heroes, but the Russian Marines played an important role in carrying out this operation," retired captain of the 1st rank Alexander Pushkarsky, who served in the Pacific Fleet, told the newspaper VZGLYAD. – From what I know, I can say that it was our marines who played an important role in the lightning-fast operations both on the coast and on the land areas of the territory of Ukraine. Black Berets distinguished themselves in Mariupol and Berdyansk, participated in the liberation of Volnovakha and other places.
Without detracting from the role of other branches of the armed forces - paratroopers, tankers, gunners, everyone notes the special importance of the marine corps in conducting a military operation.
I am proud of the Pacific Marines from the 155th Brigade, just like the marine units of other fleets. As far as I know from my sources, the forces of many units are now involved in Ukraine, which raise the St. Andrew's flag over their positions both in defensive and for the most part in offensive actions. Believe me, the title of guardsmen is not so easy to earn in battle."
The current assignment of the honorary name "Guards" to the 155th separate Marine Brigade preceded the assignment of the title of Hero of Russia to Colonel Alexander Bernhard (Guard Colonel), who previously served in this unit, and then held the position of deputy commander of the 810th Marine Brigade in Sevastopol. The Marines under his personal command broke through the enemy's deeply echeloned defense at Volnovakha – they bit into it without delay. Now, as it became known, the advanced units of the Marine Corps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have reached the barracks of the main base of the National Battalion "Azov" in Mariupol.
The commander of the 126th separate coastal Defense Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel Sergei Storozhenko, whose subordinates have also now become guards, has not yet been personally awarded high awards. He began his army service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, after graduating from the Kiev Tank Military School, he was assigned to the Crimea, where he began his service as a platoon commander. In 2014, he made a difficult decision for himself to serve as part of the Russian Armed Forces, which he does not regret now, and his compound has become an advanced part of the Black Sea Fleet.
As part of this brigade – most of the military personnel, and this is 80% of "contract workers" and 20% of "conscripts" - are former citizens of Ukraine, mostly residents of Crimea, now Russians. The brigade took an active part in a special operation and an almost bloodless entry into the Kherson region and the blocking of the city of Nikolaev. The details were not disclosed, but the honorary name "Guards" was not accidental.
"To join the Army Guard is a high honor for any serviceman," military historian Alexander Zimovsky told the newspaper VZGLYAD. – This title does not give special preferences, as well as salary increases, but the "Guard" badge has been considered especially honorable since its introduction in 1942. Even the "demob" soldiers from the construction battalion tried to get it by hook or by crook.
The advantages of the Guards units and formations now consist only in the primary supply of modern weapons – here the guards are expensive.
There are no differences in military uniforms or rations in the army, even when an officer enters the academy, "guards gloss" does not add points when passing exams. It is now, rather, an element of formal prestige, involvement in the military elite, to which the airborne units belong to a greater extent. Now the Naval Guards and its marines are being pulled up to them, which is not inferior in popularity among conscripts to service in the amphibious forces."
Formations and units of the Marine Corps are part of all fleets and flotillas of the Russian Navy. Today they include the 336th brigade in the Baltic Fleet, the 61st in the Northern Fleet, the 810th in the Black Sea Fleet, the 40th and 155th brigades are part of the Pacific Fleet, the Caspian Flotilla has the 177th Marine Regiment. The number of "black berets" is about 35 thousand people, and there are even tanks in service, so different military specialists are in demand here.
Once serving in the Marine Corps, officers cease to consider themselves "landsmen" and are proud of belonging to their own kind of troops, the peculiarity of which is emphasized, among other things, by uniforms, insignia and, of course, a special flag that shows their connection with the fleet. The motto of the Marine Corps: "Where we are, there is victory."
As it is now officially confirmed by the ongoing special operation in Ukraine.
Victor Sokirko
