Russia’s 126th Separate Coastal Defence Brigade, which may be involved in the humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, was formed from Ukrainian servicemen who defected to Russia following the occupation of Crimea.
This was reported in a Slidstvo.Info investigation titled “Slidstvo.Info Identifies Russian Servicemen Who May Be Involved in the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Oleshky”.
Before the occupation of Crimea, the 36th Separate Coastal Defence Brigade was stationed in the village of Perevalne. It was one of the most combat-capable Ukrainian military units on the peninsula. Its commander was Serhii Storozhenko, a native of Kharkiv Oblast.
In late February 2014, Russians seized the buildings of Crimea’s parliament and government. On 2 March, dressed in civilian clothing, they approached the gates of the military base in Perevalne.
As recalled by Yurii Holovashenko, then commander of the 36th Brigade’s mountain infantry battalion, Storozhenko initially stated that any cooperation with the occupiers was out of the question.
“The brigade’s morale is high. I am ready to act in accordance with military regulations if the boundaries of the guard post are breached. The guards and duty unit are on alert,” the commander of the 36th Brigade assured Ukrainian and foreign journalists.
However, when the occupiers demanded that the troops surrender their weapons and offer no resistance, Storozhenko told his officers: “I will not sacrifice people’s lives. I am surrendering the brigade.” On 21 March, he raised the Russian flag over the military base.
Several years later, in an interview with a Russian newspaper, Storozhenko claimed that he had waited until the very last moment for a clear order from Kyiv, but never received one. Storozhenko insisted that Turchynov, then acting President of Ukraine, had told him over the phone, “You must use your weapons”, but that no one had issued him a formal combat order. The Ukrainian flag remained flying over the military base until 21 March. Storozhenko submitted a request for discharge from military service.
Following this, the Russian military command established the 126th Coastal Defence Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the basis of the former Ukrainian military unit. Storozhenko remained its commander until August 2016.
According to Storozhenko, of the approximately 1,200 servicemen in the 36th Brigade in 2014, nearly 200 left Crimea to continue serving in Ukraine, 300 left military service, and around 600 remained in their positions in Perevalne.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian 126th Coastal Defence Brigade took part in combat operations in Kherson Oblast, including the battles for Voznesensk.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, by mid-April 2022, the brigade had lost up to 75% of its personnel. Nevertheless, the Russian authorities awarded it the honorary designation of “Guards” for its “courage”.
Slidstvo.Info established that the 126th Brigade is currently stationed in the area around occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast. The Russian occupiers are blocking food supplies to the city, leaving residents without food, medicine, electricity or gas.
