72nd Guards Rifle Division

72nd Mechanized Brigade (2016–present) 72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade (2002–2016) 72nd Guards Mechanized Division (1992–2002) 72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division (1957–1992) 72nd Guards Rifle Division (1943–1957) 29th Rifle Division (1941–1943)
72nd Mechanized Brigade Sleeve Patch
Active	December 5, 1941 – Present
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Ukrainian Army
Type	Brigade
Role	Mechanized
Size	~3,000
Part of	8th Army Corps
Garrison/HQ	Bila Tserkva, Kiev Oblast
Equipment	T-64
Engagements	World War II 2014 pro-Russian conflict in UkraineBattle of Avdiivka
Decorations	Order of the Red Banner (removed)
Battle honours	Krasnohrad Kiev
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Andriy Sokolov

72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade
(2002–2016)

72nd Guards Mechanized Division
(1992–2002)

72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division
(1957–1992)

72nd Guards Rifle Division
(1943–1957)

The 72nd Kiev Mechanized Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It was previously named the 29th Rifle Division (2nd formation) and then the 72nd Guards Rifle Division of the Soviet Ground Forces. in 1957, it became a motor rifle division.

The 29th Rifle Division (2nd formation) was redesignated the 72nd Guard Rifle Division by Directorate of the General Staff order №104 on 1 March 1943. The units of the division were renumbered.

On March 3, 1943, 72nd Guard Rifle Division was involved in battles for liberation of Belgorod. Soon they were near Kharkiv and Krasnohrad. On 19 September, the division was awarded the title Krasnohrad. On 8 January 1944, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

The division fought in the Budapest Offensive from late October 1944. On 15 December, units of the division reinforced Cavalry Mechanized Group Pliev during the attack on Szécsény. On 9 January, the division was attached to the 24th Guards Rifle Corps. The division captured the area around Bart. The division's attack was stopped by the 1st Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 317 a kilometer north of the village.

In May 1946, the division became the 7th Guards Rifle Brigade, part of the 33rd Guards Rifle Corps. In October 1953, it became a division again. The 72nd Guards Rifle Division became a motor rifle division stationed in the Kiev Military District at Bila Tserkva on 4 June 1957. It was part of the 1st Army. On 19 February 1962, the 280th Separate Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated. A missile battalions was also activated on the same day. In 1968, the 220th Separate Guards Sapper Battalion became an Engineer Sapper Battalion. In 1972, the 191st Separate Chemical Defence Company became the 23rd Separate Chemical Defence Battalion. The 1345th Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated on 15 November 1972. The motor transport battalion became the 892nd Separate Material Supply Battalion in 1980. In 1990, the division was equipped with 133 T-64 main battle tanks. During the Cold War, the division was maintained at 25% strength, with one full strength regiment.