61st Naval Infantry Brigade (Russia)

The 61st Naval Infantry Brigade (Military Unit Number 38643) is a formation of the Russian Navy Naval Infantry. It is part of the Northern Fleet Naval Infantry and Coastal Defence forces. The brigade is based in the Sputnik military settlement, located in Murmansk Oblast. Some sources consider it one of the best trained and most combat experienced units of the Russian military.

In August 2014 the brigade's units participated in the War in Donbas.

History
The brigade was established on 20 November 1979 from the 61st Separate Naval Infantry Regiment. The regiment was activated at Sputnik on 14 May 1966 from the 61st Motor Rifle Regiment.

Soldiers of the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade fought in 1995 in First and 1999/2000 in Second Chechen War. On 1 December 2009, the brigade was downsized into a regiment with the same designation. It became a brigade again on 15 December 2014.

In 2014, according to an investigation published by Bellingcat, marines of 61st Naval Infantry Brigade participated in the War in Donbass in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. Brigade personnel and vehicles, including the brigade's exotic 2S23 Nona-SVK, were spotted on the territory of the Ukrainian National Guard’s military base (3035) in Luhansk. Evidences shows the brigade's direct participation in combat near Vishnevy Dol village in the Luhansk region.

Upon returning home, the marines took their trophy BRDM armored vehicle back to Murmansk. At least 5 soldiers received decorations, which included the Zhukov Medal, the Order of Suvorov and the Order of Courage. Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Vitaly Trofimov was reportedly killed in Ukraine.

In March 2016, the 61st Marine Brigade conducted operations in which it aided the Syrian army's liberation of Syrian city Palmyra. The 61st also participated in the storming of the city. Despite other Russian forces being more available for the operation the 61st was chosen for the operation because some sources consider it one of the best trained and most combat experienced units of the Russian military.

Organisation and order of battle

 * Brigade Headquarters
 * 874th Marine Battalion
 * 876th Air-Assault (Desant) Battalion
 * 886th Reconnaissance Battalion
 * 125th Armored Battalion
 * 1611th Self-propelled Artillery Battalion
 * 1591st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion
 * 1617th Anti-aircraft Missile and Artillery Battalion