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19th Missile Brigade "Saint Barbara"

The 19th Missile Brigade "Saint Barbara" ( 19 RBr, military unit A4239, item B3225 ) is a formation of missile troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Combat commanders say that the task of the brigade is to quickly, accurately and covertly launch a missile attack on the enemy. The specificity of the work lies in secrecy and maneuverability. "For the enemy, we are a primary target. Therefore, there is very little information about us," says the commander with the call sign "Dynamo".

The 19th Missile Brigade is the only one in the Ukrainian Armed Forces named in honor of a saint. It reports directly to the Command of the Ground Forces of Ukraine. On the chevron, rocketmen wear a scorpion. "Saint Barbara is the patron saint of artillery all over the world, we believe that she protects us during combat missions," explains the commander with the call sign "Dynamo". "Why a scorpion? Because this animal acts as we do. It appears out of nowhere, finds its victim and hides," Klevyer comments.

The brigade is armed with Tochka tactical missile systems. It is directly subordinated to the Command of the Ground Forces of Ukraine. The 19th Missile Brigade was the first to be created on the basis of the 19th Missile Division in Khmelnytskyi, which also inherited the number of the disbanded Third Brigade. In the fall of 1999, the Battle Flag of the 19th Missile Division of the Russian Armed Forces with combat awards — the orders of the Red Banner, Suvorov and Kutuzov II degrees was solemnly handed over to the 1st Missile Division, which included the 19th Missile Brigade. After the reduction of the 1st Missile Division, this flag was transferred to the 19th Missile Brigade.

The brigade is the only one among all artillery units to be armed with tactical missile systems "Point U". Its main purpose is to accurately strike the enemy at a long distance with strikes on troops and important objects. During operations in the coastal direction, destroy the strike groups of the enemy's fleet, its naval bases, ports, and naval landings.

"Point U" is an effective long-range weapon, a "longest arm". The brigade can reach the enemy at a distance of 120 kilometers. "In addition, it is also the most reliable shield, because we can also destroy our own opponents, that is, missile units that plan to attack our cities and villages. We work exactly when the last argument is needed. When several warehouses go "under the slope" the enemy - it is immediately reflected at the front," the commanders say.

Since 2005, in accordance with the program of reforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 19th Missile Brigade has been rearming from an operational-tactical missile brigade to a mixed-composition brigade, 2 divisions of which are armed with tactical missiles, and one division with operational-tactical ones. In the fall of 2007, when the 9K72 complexes in Ukraine were decommissioned, the brigade finally switched to "Point-U". As of 2014, the 19th RBr was the only missile brigade in the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On 14 September 2017, as part of a working trip to the Khmelnytskyi garrison, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, General of the Army of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, inspected the 19th Khmelnytskyi Missile Brigade, According to the results of the work in the military unit, Stepan Poltorak decided to increase the funding of the brigade and set a task for the leadership to prepare proposals for improving the infrastructure and ways to solve problematic issues within 10 days.

"Your military unit is very glorious. From the first day of the confrontation, you have performed, are performing, and I am convinced that you will perform all the tasks facing the missile brigade. I really like the spirit and mood of your team. Today I want to thank each of you for your patriotism and courage, heroism and self-sacrifice," the head of the defense department emphasized.

The 19th missile brigade had been shelling the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics since 2014. In particular, on 14 March 2022, it struck Donetsk with a Tochka-U missile. More than 20 civilians were killed then.

The Russian army struck the 19th missile brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces on 21 March 2022. At least 9 servicemen from the unit were killed. This was reported by Andriy Tsaplienko from the Ukrainian side. The 19th brigade is the only missile division of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is armed with 9K79 "Point-U" missile systems. The losses of the Ukrainian brigade in equipment was not initially known. It was not known what type of weapon was used in the attack.

On March 29, 2022 the 19th Missile Brigade made a precise strike with a Tochka-U missile against the missile and artillery weapons of the Russian Armed Forces in the village of Oktyabrskoye near Belgorod. From these warehouses, Russia supplies ammunition to kill Ukrainians. Judging by the explosion and the remoteness of the composition of the 19th Missile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they are conducting "effective negotiations on the demilitarization and denazification of Russia". This is the format of negotiations that Ukrainians supported.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky awarded orders to almost 20 rocket operators from Khmelnytskyi July 12, 2022. The fighters were awarded the orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree, "For Courage" III degree and Danylo Halytskyi. And also medals "For military service to Ukraine". Zelenskyy awarded state awards to the fighters of the 19th Saint Varvara missile brigade from the Khmelnytskyi region. Almost two dozen soldiers received the orders of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, "For Courage", Danylo Halytskyi and medals "For Military Service to Ukraine". On July 11, the head of the OVA, Serhiy Gamalii, presented the presidential awards, as reported on the page of the rocket brigade.

The rocketmen were thanked for their personal courage and selfless actions, loyalty to the military oath and the Ukrainian people, demonstrated in the defense of state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. "Thank you for your heroism, for the fact that you protect and will protect our country until the foot of the last occupier leaves our land. We are proud of you and will do everything in our power to support the Armed Forces, because we have a common goal - victory, and we will achieve it!" Serhiy Gamalii noted.

Unfortunately, part of the awards were given to the relatives of the fallen Heroes , who gave the most valuable thing for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people – their own lives.

The 25th anniversary of its creation was celebrated on 09 November 2022 by the 19th St. Varvara Missile Brigade. On this occasion, the best servicemen were honored with awards for their significant contribution to the defense of Ukraine. Sincere congratulations from the command, volunteers, representatives of the authorities and musical gifts from the orchestra rang out on the square. They were grateful to the "gods of war" for high professional skill, responsibility and endurance, loyalty to the oath and military duty, a worthy contribution to the victory over the Russian horde and ensuring peace and tranquility for future generations.

November 9, 1997 is considered the day of creation of the 19th missile brigade. On December 5, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy named the brigade "Saint Barbara". On February 23, 2019, the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko officially approved the new emblem of the brigade. On January 22, 2020, units of the brigade received an honorary flag. It was consecrated by the now deceased Metropolitan of Khmelnytskyi and Kamianets-Podilskyi Anthony (Makhota). Vladyka also handed over a portion of the relics of Saint Barbara, who is considered the patroness of missile forces and artillery. They are kept in the church of Nestor of Thessaloniki on the territory of the military unit.