53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade
| 268th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment (1961-1967) 53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade (1967-present) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1961-present |
| Country |
 Russia (1992-present) |
| Branch |
Soviet Army (1961-1991) |
| Type | Surface-to-air missile brigade |
| Part of | 20th Guards Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Kursk |
| Equipment | SA-11 Buk |
The 53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade is a Surface-to-air missile brigade of the Russian Ground Forces. Part of the 20th Guards Army, the brigade is based at Kursk. [1] The brigade has been reported by Bellingcat and CORRECT!V as the unit that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.[2][3]
History
The 268th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment was formed in 1961 at Artik with the 7th Guards Army, equipped with the SA-2. On 1 October 1967 it was upgraded into the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade. Around this time the brigade received the SA-4 Krug missile system.Between 20 December 1968 and 7 January 1969 it transferred to East Germany. The brigade became part of the 1st Guards Tank Army at Altenburg. On 1 October 1970 it transferred to the 20th Guards Army but returned to the 1st Guards Tank Army in 1984. The brigade included the 677th, 679th and 682nd Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket Battalions,[4] based at Altenburg, Merseburg and Zeitz, respectively. In November 1986 the 1578th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket Battalion was formed at Merseburg after the 677th moved to Wittenberg. At this time the brigade was reequipped with the SA-11 Buk missile system. In 1992, the brigade was withdrawn to Kursk and became part of the 20th Guards Army. [1]
References
- 1 2 Holm, Michael. "53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ↑ "New report says it proves Russian forces downed flight MH17". www.kyivpost.com. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ↑ "Images Show the Buk that Downed Flight MH17, Inside Russia, Controlled by Russian Troops - bellingcat". bellingcat. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- ↑ Feskov et al 2013, p. 281
- Feskov, V.I.; Golikov, V.I.; Kalashnikov, K.A.; Slugin, S.A. (2013). Вооруженные силы СССР после Второй Мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской [The Armed Forces of the USSR after World War II: From the Red Army to the Soviet] (in Russian). 1 Land Forces. Tomsk: Tomsk University Press. ISBN 9785895035306.