18th Motorized Rifle Brigade (military unit № 27777), based in Khankala and Kalinovskaya village, Chechnya, is part of the Russian 58th Army of the Southern Military District and Russian military unit which is actively participating in the Donbas War.
While examining information and social profiles of the servicemen of 18th brigade (photo albums, comments, contacts, statuses, geotags, etc.), we detected a group of contract servicemen from the reconnaissance company of this brigade, who were deployed to Ukraine in Spring and Summer of 2014.
In the outcome we were able to gather evidence, confirming the presence of Russian scouts in active combat in Donbas. Among the indicators, pointing to the presence of those Russians in Ukraine, are online photos in which these people are posing white arm bands, non-commissioned uniform, Novorossiya insignia, St. George ribbons, weapons and military equipment, masked with DNR/LNR signs yet in a manner which made trace analysis (linking the equipment to Russia) still possible.
Most of the Russian scout ‘veterans’ of the 18th brigade are now on their next assignment to Ukraine, which can be proved by their recent photos, made in those raions of the Rostov oblast which are bordering with Ukraine. So, without further undue introductions, here come our ‘heroes’:
1. Victor Nikolaevich Avzhynov (https://vk.com/avzhinov, arhived https://archive.is/EAMLN) is a scout-sniper. While Avzhynov is not a big fan of photography, yet he did not miss an opportunity to show off his Medal of Suvorov, registration № 40978, issued by a decree of the President of Russia on November 24, 2014. Avzhynov’s photo album includes photos of a number of other servicemen from his unit, who are also subjects of our investigation (please pay particular attention to a group photo in front of the APC with a guy, wearing a jacket and another group selfie with his fellow servicemen, which was posted in the photo albums of other subjects of our investigation — all of whom are scouts of the 18th brigade).
2. Volodya Chembeleev (https://vk.com/id191365679, archive https://archive.is/rK5o8), served in Russian airborne troops, then signed a contract and became serviceman of the 18th brigade. Mr. Chembeleev is one of the most explicit objects of our investigation, his photo albums allowed us to establish a number of interesting details.
Chembeleev’s photos spread from 2012 until now. Photos from 2014—2015 are the most illustrative. These are military shows at the brigade’s base, drills and exercises, walking tours across Grozny and other fun. Photos, that were uploaded in July—December 2014 are from the period of the ‘trip to Ukraine’, including group photos of Chembeleev’s fellow servicemen posing as Novorossiya militants with white arm bands and balaclavas in front of the military equipment. Chembeleev, lilke Avzhanov, did not miss the chance to show off his Medal of Suvorov, award certificate № 41191, issued on December 1, 2014.
Particularly interesting is a photo set dated September 2014, in which Chembeleev is posing in front of T-72B tanks with rushedly painted tactical triangles. The side number, starting with 5 and painted in red, is still visible on one of the turrets. The white triangle is painted over the side number.
Note! Red three digit numbers starting with 5 index were used to indicate tanks and SPGs of the 18th brigade. Among other evidence, this can be proved by photos from the Russian «twower» blog, dated October 14, 2011, where one can find numerous photos with red three digit numbers starting with ‘5’ on the military equipment of this unit. According to our sources, T-72B tanks were decommissioned when the 18th brigade got T-72B3 modification and the decommissioned tanks were then transferred to the storage facilities in Krasnodar Krai in 2014. One can guess that ‘decommissioned’ tanks were intentionally and in advance transferred closer to Ukraine to be then used in Donbas.
The more, the better! Mishaxaxa blog has an entry, dated January 13, 2015 and titled «Т-72 tanks of the self-defence forces». Among the photos presented there is a photo of the tank with ‘Ritka’ woman name written on it. This tank also has tactical signs in a form of white triangles. Moreover, our hero Volodya Chembeleev and his two fellow scouts, whom we then were able to recognize among people in Chembeleev’s photos, are posing in the same photo.
3. Alexei Korovin (https://vk.com/id217518702, archive https://archive.is/QCIo3) is a contract servicemen of the recon company of the same brigade. Despite meagre profile and photos, Korovin posted a number of interesting videos, including the video with a following comment: “To our friend Denys Khusainov, who died in combat near Novosvitlivka, Luhanska oblast, Ukraine. We will always remember you…” The video was uploaded on November 23, 2014 and we made an archive copy in case its owner decides to delete this video.
It is important to note that in memoriam photo of Khusainov, enlisted Russian soldier who died in Ukraine, is featured by the social accounts of other servicemen of 18th brigade whom we investigated.
Note! Denis Khusainov was listed among the dead militants of the ‘Vitsyaz’ regiment of the LNR on Krasnodon website. This way Russian military command kept its back covered by reclassifying their military scout who was killed in Donbas into a militant and shifting the day of his death to a later date. The memorial video lists Denys Khusainov birth date as January 13, 1981 and his date of the death as August 14, 2014 while Krasnodon website states Khusainov died in September, 2014.
4. Anton Gud (https://vk.com/antongud, archive https://archive.is/KaJA4) is a contract serviceman of the reconnaissance company of the 18th brigade. Some of his photos feature content, related to the annexation of Crimea and ‘Ukrainian trip’ that followed. Anton is wearing white armbands for identification, St. George ribbon, Novorossiya insignia as well as other ‘appropriate’ items. He also posted photos of his fellow servicemen dressed as Novorossiya militants in front of the abovementioned tanks with the tactical marking (i.e. white triangles) and in front of the BTR-82 armored personnel carrier. Among people in this picture we can see our previous subjects Avzhynov and Chembeleev. The album also included collective photo in front of an APC with Avzhynov and a guy in a jacket (Avzhynov posted very similar photo with a slightly different angle).
Gud’s profile also features memorial photo and video of his fellow servicemen Khusainov that we already discussed. Gud shared the video from Korovin’s (№3 in this report) profile.
5. Roman Aleskeevskih (https://vk.com/alexeevskih, archive https://archive.is/2aWn7), scout of the 18th brigade. His photo albums are not so informative, yet he has a photo with Novorossiya insignia, ‘I am Moscovite’ poster, and a photo from hospital, where we has ongoing rehabilitation after injury in Ukraine. Like other fellow servicemen, Aleskeevskih posted a memorial photo of Denis Khusainov.
6. Ildar Rinatovich (https://vk.com/id255900576, archive https://archive.is/jmDE4) is a contract serviceman of the reconnaissance company of the 18th brigade since 2011 and a terrorist combatant in the Donbas, which is proved by the photoset we managed to gather. Everything is typical: APC selfie, which Avzhynov and Gud posted as well and memorial photo of Khusainov.
7. Roman Rorokin (https://vk.com/id207467385, archive https://archive.is/Q7tW3), contract serviceman of the scout unit of the 18th brigade since 2013, participated in active combat in Donbas in Summer and Autumn of 2014. The clear evidence of this is Roman’s photo, posted in February 2015 with a following comment: “August 2 ) we are returning from the border ))) we are scout company )”. This photo features other scouts as well, including Mr. Avzhynov, №1 in this research.
8. Mikhail Sinishyn (https://vk.com/id256613800, archive https://archive.is/SOMuN), contract serviceman of the scout company of the 18th brigade. Sinishyn’s photos include many interesting ones: from the brigade’s base and from ‘the Ukrainian trip of 2014’, featuring faces (including our №1 Avzhynov). The most noticeable are photos that were uploaded in August 2014. They include a photo with a bunch of scouts posing as Novorossiya militants. The photo is titled ‘near the village of Volnokhino’ (no doubt it is Volnukhino, a village in Lutuhynsky rayon of Luhansk oblast of Ukraine).
The last photo of Synyshyn, that was uploaded on July 12, 2015, confirmed that he was in another ‘Ukrainian trip’ at that moment. Judging by a geotag in Rostov Oblast, he is getting look and feel of Novorossiya militant — growing a beard and getting rid of everything that can prove he is professional Russian military currently performing active service. Other Russian servicemen, also wearing a white identification armbands, are visible in this photo. Most likely, this unit was already transferred to Donbas and is participating in the new provocations, aimed at conflict escalation.
9. Stas Smolyakov (https://vk.com/id269651666, archive https://archive.is/zlMcs), contract servicemen of the scout company of the 18th brigade. Smolyakov participated in the active combat in Donbas, which is proved by a number of photos, including an APC selfie that was mentioned above. Same of these photos are also featured in albums of our №2 (Volodya Chembeleev).
10. Vitaliy Viktorovich (https://vk.com/id269831672, archive https://archive.is/T9tt8), contract servicemen of the scout company of the 18th brigade. This soldier participated in the active combat in Donbas and it is proved by a typical photo with white armband and APC selfie from Volodya Chembeleev’s album.
11. Andrey Gultyaev (https://vk.com/id24086308, archive https://archive.is/fSksO), contract servicemen of the scout company of the 18th brigade. This soldier participated in the active combat. Group selfies in his photo albums feature №1 (Avzhynov) and №2 (Chembeleev) of our research.
18th separate motorized rifles brigade was created in 2008 as an outcome of reform of the Russian Army. It consists of updated units of former 42th motorized division, which was based in Khankala and Kalinovskaya villages in Chechnya. This unit is one of the most advanced and combat ready in the modern Russian Army. The brigade is completely reequipped with a new and modernized machinery, weapons and ammunition. It also includes so-called ‘national battalion’, staffed by the ethnic Chechens, most of whom are former insurgents, who were granted amnesty and became part of the armed units of pro-Russian Chechen commanders Kadyrov and Yamadaev.
Units of 18th brigade took part in Russian aggression against Georgia in August 2008. In 2014—2015 18th brigade and its ‘national battalion’ were numerously spotted in Donbas. Here are some of the related reports by InformNapalm:
- New Evidence of Russian Military Incursion into Ukraine June 14, 2014
- An Introduction to the so-called “Wild”, or National Battalions of the Russian Federation Currently Engaged in Ukraine August 29, 2014
- Tanks of the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade in Ukraine March 4, 2015
- A Story Behind the Photo: Separatist Leader Pavel Gubarev and the Russian 18th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade June 10, 2015
This OSINT investigation by InformNapalm proves involvement of the Russian Army in the military conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Notice to the media and fellow research institutions: we can provide additional research details upon your request. Please consider contacting us before reprinting or citing this information.
Original article by Irakli Komaxidze, with valuable contributions by Mikhail Net, translated by Gennadiy Kornev.
20 Responses to “‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brigade in Donbas”
08/11/2015
MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 110015UTC August 2015 | MILNEWS.ca Blog[…] ” ‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brig… […]
10/21/2015
3 Trips From the 18th Brigade to Donbas — 'Cherchez la femme' - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] Ukraine are not recognized as the ones who served here, as it happened to Denis Husainov who was retrospectively dismissed as a ‘LPR’ fighter. This story was thoroughly described in the ‘Putin’s Eleven’ […]
10/22/2015
Cherchez la femme – Tre tjänsteresor från 18 skyttebrigadens garnison till Donbass | InformNapalm (På svenska)[…] redovisas inte som om de tjänstgjort i bataljonen, som till exempel Denis Huseinov som retroaktivt avpolletterades som separatist hos ”Folkrepubliken Luhansk”. Berättelsen om honom finns väl beskriven i vår […]
01/21/2016
Top de victorias de INFORMNAPALM. Cronología de los 12 meses de lucha - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] masiva del personal militar ruso en la guerra en Donbass. Por ejemplo, en el artículo “11 amigos de Putin: en una selfie del 18a OMSBr en Donbass” sobre la base de OSINT-investigación han mostrado evidencia de que la brigada 18a de […]
03/03/2016
Den ryska 18:e brigadens artilleriattacker mot Ukraina – InformNapalm på svenska[…] Tre resor från 18:e skyttebrigadens garnison till Donbass ‣ Selfie soldiers of the 18th rifle brigade in Donbass ‣ Separatist leader Pavel Gubarev and the 18th rifle brigade ‣ Tanks of the Russian 18th rifle […]
03/03/2016
Den russiske 18 brigadens artilleriangrep mot Ukraina – InformNapalm på norsk[…] Selfie soldiers of the 18th rifle brigade in Donbass ‣ Separatist leader Pavel Gubarev and the 18th rifle brigade ‣ Tanks of the Russian 18th rifle […]
04/24/2016
Ryssland använde R-330ZH i slaget vid Debaltseve - InformNapalm på svenska[…] in Ukraine ❷ Separatist leader Pavel Gubarev and the Russian 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade ❸ Putin’s eleven selfie soldiers of the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade in Donbass ❹ Cherchez la femme: Tre besök i Donbass från den ryska 18 […]
07/06/2016
Another Disclosure by InformNapalm: War Criminals from the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade of Russian Forces - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] information is based on the OSINT-investigation demonstrating and providing additional facts of the participation of reconnaissance detachment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade (military unit No. 27777, 58th […]
07/09/2016
Otra captura de InformNapalm: criminales de guerra de la 18 brigada OMSBr de las Fuerzas Armadas de Federación de Rusia - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] nuevo material se basa en #OSINT-investigación y pone de manifiesto y complementa los hechos de la participación la unidad de reconocimiento de la 18ª brigada del Infantería Motorizada Independiente (u / m […]
08/16/2016
The price of silence: a medal, a war vet ID and Kia Rio - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] military units of the Southern Military District of the Russian army (Chechnya — - 8th,17th,18th MRBr, Dagestan — 136th MRBr, Ingusheniya 291th artillery brigade (ArtBr), North […]
08/30/2016
Russian Lieutenant-Colonel Exposes Kremlin's Tactics of Hybrid War against Ukraine (+18) - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] is normally not performed by companies and battalions of the Russian Armed Forces, but by combined battalion tactical groups, staffed by personnel from various units. Their formation is partly happening in the occupied […]
09/18/2016
Database and Video Overview of the Russian Weaponry in the Donbas - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] Investigation #1 Investigation #2 […]
09/19/2016
Databas och videoöversikt av ryska vapen i Donbass - InformNapalm på svenska[…] Investigation #1 Investigation #2 […]
09/19/2016
Base de datos y videográfica de armas modernas de las Fuerzas Armadas de Rusia en Donbáss - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] Detalles de identificación: episodio1, episodio 2 […]
12/02/2016
Kejsarens nya kläder – Putin blottad - InformNapalm på svenska[…] i förtid. Samma öde har drabbat andra förband i det södra militärdistriktet – 17:e, 8:e och 18:e motoriserade skyttebrigaderna stationerade i Tjetjenien och bemannade med kontraktspersonal har […]
12/12/2016
Officer from Russian 18th Motor Rifle Brigade traced to war zone in Ukraine - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] standard BTR-82 APCs of 18th Motor Rifle Brigade spotted in Donbas in previous reports, such as ‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brigade in Donbas dated August 10, 2015. Deployment of BTR-82 APCs by Russian troops in Eastern Ukraine was […]
02/22/2017
Identificados los exploradores - presumidos de la 17a OMSBr que combatieron en Donbass - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] de las fuerzas de tierra del ejército ruso: 17 OMSBr (u / m 65384, Shali, Chechenia) DMS, 18 de OMSBr (U / M 27777, Khankala / Kalynovska, Chechenia), 7a Brigada de carros, región de Chelyabinsk, Chebarkul de DMC, […]
07/02/2017
Of living and dead: 17th MRB of the Russian Army (infographics) - InformNapalm.org (English)[…] dates of birth and death, active connection to the Russian Army (e.g. as it happened in the case of Denis Khusainov, a KIA contract serviceman of the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade (MRB), who was portrayed in the […]
09/16/2017
Un oficial de la 18a Brigada de las Fuerzas Armadas de FR fue revelado luchado en Ucrania - InformNapalm.org (Español)[…] BTR-82 de la 18a OMSB en Donbass, incluyendo en la publicación del 23 de julio de 2015 ” ‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brigade in Donbas”. El uso de estos vehículos blindados por las tropas rusas en el este de Ucrania ha sido […]
11/28/2017
Sergeant Tekuzhev och major Epishin från ryska Mek IB 18[…] Selfie soldiers of the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade in Donbass […]