• Languages
Language (English)
  • Українська (UA)
  • Русский (RU)
  • English (EN)
  • Deutsch (DE)
  • Français (FR)
  • Español (ES)
  • Беларуская (BY)
  • Български (BG)
  • Polska (PL)
  • Čeština (CZ)
  • Slovenský (SK)
  • Lietuvių (LT)
  • Latvijas (LV)
  • Nederlands (NL)
  • Português (PT)
  • Italiano (IT)
  • Svenska (SV)
  • Norsk (NO)
  • Dansk (DK)
  • ქართული (GE)
  • Română (RO)
  • Magyar (HU)
  • Ελληνικά (EL)
  • Deutsch (AT)
  • العربية (AR)
  • Türkçe (TR)
  • Azərbaycan (AZ)
  • Татарча (TAT)
  • 日本語 (JP)
  • 中文 (CN)
  • 한국어 (KR)

    Logo

    support informnapalm
    Navigation
    • Home
    • News & OSINT
      • Donbas
      • Crimea
      • Syria
      • Georgia
      • World
      • Summaries
      • Misc
      • Social review
    • Top Investigations
    • History
    • About Us

    ‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brigade in Donbas

    on 08/10/2015 | | News | Russian Military Assessment Print This Post Print This Post
    • ru
    • de
    • by
    • ua
    • pl
    • en
    • bg

    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).

    profile 2 3 9 8

    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.

    profile10 medali8 medali 17 najopnik nakolka vdv 19 flag imperski na fone tankov kolekt fevr11 donb12 donb14 flag ssha6 disloka churka tamje7 grozni20 nam nujen mir jelatelno ves kazarma15 kolekt + churka snaiper16 v razv

    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.

    tanki tanki 3tanki 2

    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.

    profile  d xusainov mertvi spisok.JPG Krasnodonec

    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.

    profile 13 video posvyshaetsy denisy2346 8 kolek + churka10 kolekt + churka i pidjak 12 krim 7 9 shaxti 11 v kedax

    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.

    pr 8 klizmennay 6 krasavec10 skorbim 7 grozni 1 obam 2 rost 4 shtopan

    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.

    prof grozni1 grup don skorbit

    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.

    prv poles granici

    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).

    pr pole zdanied rojlesles 2les 3 pod volnovaxoi esh tigra 9 maia

    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.

    rost obl

    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).

    pr btr-idonb maskapolekalingroz

    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.

    pr masja na btr donbaspolev lesu v pole boev pot 18-i za dobl

    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.

    prof 8 45 6 7123

    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.

     

    Recent Posts

    • Andriy Derkach and his tapes. About one special operation to interfere in the US presidential election

      08/10/2020 - 0 Comment
    • Hacked: Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Pavel Fradkov. Business interests of Kadyrov and Kabaev in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine

      05/01/2025 - 0 Comment
    • Analysis and examples of sanctions evasion schemes used by Russian military-industrial complex

      04/28/2025 - 0 Comment
    • Hacking of Z-volunteer Ivanov, a member of Putin’s United Russia party: real estate scheming in the occupied territories

      04/04/2025 - 0 Comment

    20 Responses to “‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brigade in Donbas”

    1. 08/11/2015

      MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 110015UTC August 2015 | MILNEWS.ca Blog Reply

      […] ” ‘Putin’s Eleven’ — Selfie Soldiers of 18th Russian Motorized Rifles Brig… […]

    2. 10/21/2015

      3 Trips From the 18th Brigade to Donbas — 'Cherchez la femme' - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] 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’ […]

    3. 10/22/2015

      Cherchez la femme – Tre tjänsteresor från 18 skyttebrigadens garnison till Donbass | InformNapalm (På svenska) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    4. 01/21/2016

      Top de victorias de INFORMNAPALM. Cronología de los 12 meses de lucha - InformNapalm.org (Español) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    5. 03/03/2016

      Den ryska 18:e brigadens artilleriattacker mot Ukraina – InformNapalm på svenska Reply

      […] 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 […]

    6. 03/03/2016

      Den russiske 18 brigadens artilleriangrep mot Ukraina – InformNapalm på norsk Reply

      […] Selfie soldiers of the 18th rifle brigade in Donbass ‣ Separatist leader Pavel Gubarev and the 18th rifle brigade ‣ Tanks of the Russian 18th rifle […]

    7. 04/24/2016

      Ryssland använde R-330ZH i slaget vid Debaltseve - InformNapalm på svenska Reply

      […] 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 […]

    8. 07/06/2016

      Another Disclosure by InformNapalm: War Criminals from the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade of Russian Forces - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    9. 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) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    10. 08/16/2016

      The price of silence: a medal, a war vet ID and Kia Rio - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    11. 08/30/2016

      Russian Lieutenant-Colonel Exposes Kremlin's Tactics of Hybrid War against Ukraine (+18) - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    12. 09/18/2016

      Database and Video Overview of the Russian Weaponry in the Donbas - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] Investigation #1 Investigation #2 […]

    13. 09/19/2016

      Databas och videoöversikt av ryska vapen i Donbass - InformNapalm på svenska Reply

      […] Investigation #1 Investigation #2 […]

    14. 09/19/2016

      Base de datos y videográfica de armas modernas de las Fuerzas Armadas de Rusia en Donbáss - InformNapalm.org (Español) Reply

      […] Detalles de identificación: episodio1, episodio 2 […]

    15. 12/02/2016

      Kejsarens nya kläder – Putin blottad - InformNapalm på svenska Reply

      […] 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 […]

    16. 12/12/2016

      Officer from Russian 18th Motor Rifle Brigade traced to war zone in Ukraine - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    17. 02/22/2017

      Identificados los exploradores - presumidos de la 17a OMSBr que combatieron en Donbass - InformNapalm.org (Español) Reply

      […] 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, […]

    18. 07/02/2017

      Of living and dead: 17th MRB of the Russian Army (infographics) - InformNapalm.org (English) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    19. 09/16/2017

      Un oficial de la 18a Brigada de las Fuerzas Armadas de FR fue revelado luchado en Ucrania - InformNapalm.org (Español) Reply

      […] 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 […]

    20. 11/28/2017

      Sergeant Tekuzhev och major Epishin från ryska Mek IB 18 Reply

      […] Selfie soldiers of the 18th Motorized Rifle Brigade in Donbass […]

    Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


    *
    *

    Follow us on social media
    Slate | Sl8 | InformNapalm
    does not receive any financial support from any country’s government or large donors. Only community volunteers and our readers help us to maintain the site. You can also become one of the community volunteers or support InformNapalm with your donations:

    Patreon

    BuyMeACoffee

    USDT TRC-20: TUbRscbCFns4kvWbUnQRBow9ajxSXwxFJU

    Ethereum: 0xf8979c0e0f82EaF1E79704Eb10b750906868cb72

    Bitcoin: bc1qj6nmqwc75tkwv5zuq4x8ljq94xwqp2msf5kyv3

    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    © 2014-2019. «InformNapalm». CC BY 4.0