34th Separate Guards Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade

The 34th Separate Guards Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade (Russian: 34-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада (горная), 34 омсбр(г); Military Unit Number 01485), is a mountain warfare formation of the Russian Ground Forces. It is part of the 49th Combined Arms Army, Southern Military District. It is stationed in the village of Storozhevaya-2, Zelenchuksky District, Karachay-Cherkessia.^[1] It was created on 30 June 2006. It belongs to the Mountain Troops, whose task is to fight in mountainous areas.^[2] In 2014, it was reported that the brigade trained military mountaineers and had pack units on horses of local breeds.^[3]

34th Separate Guards Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade
34-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада (горная)
Brigade Insignia
Active	2006–Present
Country	Russia
Branch	Russian Ground Forces
Type	Mechanized infantry
Role	Mountain Warfare
Size	Brigade
Part of	49th Combined Arms Army
Garrison/HQ	Storozhevaya
Engagements	Russo-Georgian War Russo-Ukrainian War
Decorations	Guards
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Smirnov Andrei Valerievich

The brigade took part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was present in Ukraine by April 2022.^[4] As part of Armed Forces of Ukraine offensive operations in the Kherson area in late July 2022, its headquarters was claimed to be destroyed by forces of the Ukrainian Operational Command South.^[5]

On 5 December 2024 the brigade was awarded the "Guards" status.^[6]

Organization

The brigade includes the following units:

• Brigade Headquarters
• 1001st Separate Motor Rifle Battalion (Mountain)
• 1021st Separate Motor Rifle Battalion (Mountain)
• 1199th Separate Motor Rifle Battalion (Mountain)
• 491st Separate Howitzer Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
• Signals Battalion
• Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Battalion
• Electronic-Warfare Company
• Engineering-Sapper Company
• Repair Company
• Logistics Company
• Medical Company

References

1. Zelpravda.ru 2015.
2. "Руководитель КЧР поздравил командование и личный состав 34-й отдельной мотострелковой бригады (горной) с 10-летием со дня образования". РИА КЧР (in Russian). riakchr.ru. 2016-07-02. Archived from the original on 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
3. "The elite mountain brigade of the Southern Military District will be combat-ready by 2015". Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). rg.ru. 2014-07-30. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
4. "Russian mum breaks down in tears after conscript son is captured in Ukraine". Daily Mirror. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
5. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 30". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
6. "34-й отдельной мотострелковой бригаде (горной) присвоено почётное наименование «гвардейская»" [The 34th separate motor rifle brigade (mountain) was awarded the honorary designation “Guards”]. Президент России (in Russian). 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2024-12-05.

• Zelpravda.ru (2015-11-17). "Командиром назначен Сергей Дмитриев". Зеленчукская правда (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2016-12-17.