| 5th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade named after A. V. Zakharchenko | |
|---|---|
| 5-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада имени А. В. Захарченко | |
 Unit patch | |
| Active | 2014–present |
| Country |  Russia (2022–present)Previously:  Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2022) |
| Allegiance | Russia |
| Branch |  Russian Ground Forces(2022–present)DPR People's Militia [ru](2014–2022) |
| Role | Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of |  51st Guards Combined Arms Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Donetsk |
| Nickname | Oplot Brigade |
| Patron | Alexander Zakharchenko |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations |  Guards |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Unknown |
| Notable commanders | Pavel Klimenko † |
| Insignia | |
| Alternative sleeve patch |  |
| Identification symbol |  |
The5th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade named afterA. V. Zakharchenko (Russian:5-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада имени А. В. Захарченко, 5 омсбр;Military Unit Number 08805), also known as theOplot Brigade (lit.Stronghold Brigade), is a military unit ofRussian Ground Forces. Until January 1, 2023, it was part of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). It is attached to the51st Guards Combined Arms Army.
Oplot is notable for having an organisational history that began even before thewar in Ukraine. It originates from a public organisation of the same name founded in 2010 inKharkiv byEvgeny Zhilin, a former officer of the UkrainianMinistry of Internal Affairs. The name of the organisation could possibly have come from theT-84 Oplot tank developed at theMalyshev Factory, where Evgeny's father worked. One of the goals of Oplot was the "prevention of glorification" of theUPA.[1] Oplot also had a sports club with around 350 members, who often clashed with nationalistic parties such asSvoboda.[2] During theEuromaidan revolution they became one of the most violentanti-maidan fighters.[3]
After an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in Kharkiv, most of Oplot members moved to Donetsk to support the emerging Donetsk People's Republic. They were among those who stormed theDonetsk City Council building on 16 April 2014, where the leader of the Donetsk branch of Oplot and future leader of the DPR,Alexander Zakharchenko, demanded a referendum.[1]
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By September, the unit was formally incorporated into the1st Army Corps as the5th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade "Oplot". The brigade was among the most heavily armed, largest and best equipped DPR brigades.
The brigade was headquartered in Donetsk and was deployed around the city and to the south of it inDokuchaevsk, where positions atop largespoil heaps allowed them to dominate a long section of the contact line.[3]
On 8 October 2018 the brigade was named after Zakharchenko after his assassination on 31 August.[4]
The brigade took part in thebattle of Izium where they allegedly abused civilians during the occupation of the city.[5] In January 2023, it became part of the Russian army under the1st Donetsk Army Corps, which was later reformed into the 51st Combined Arms Army.[6][7]
According to Ukrainian reports, the brigade was involved in combat on theMaryinka front west ofDonetsk in November 2023.[8] In June 2024, the brigade was involved in thebattle of Krasnohorivka.[9]
The commander of the brigade, Russianmajor generalPavel Klimenko, was killed in Ukraine on 6 November 2024 by akamikaze drone.[10][11]
On 5 December 2024 the brigade was awarded the "Guards" status.[12]
The unit was heavily involved in thebattle of Kurakhove along with the110th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade and received an official commendation from the RussianMinister of Defence for the capture of the city.[13][14]
 Brigades of theRussian Ground Forces | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor rifle |
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| Tank | |||||
| Artillery |
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| Anti-aircraft missile | |||||
| Rocket | |||||
| Engineer | |||||
| NBC protection | |||||
| Signal | |||||
| Logistics |
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| Reconnaissance | |||||
| Other | |||||
Currently inactive units marked initalics. Guards units marked inbold. | |||||