Active 1945-1992 Branch Infantry Engagements Operation Ring | Country Soviet Union Size Division | |
 | ||
The 23rd Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Soviet Union's Red Army was a Motor Rifle Division active during the Cold War. After 1991-92, the Division's remnants were eventually incorporated into the new Army of Azerbaijan.
In July 1945 14th and 16th Guards Cavalry Divisions (formerly part of 7th Guards Cavalry Corps) were merged to form the 31st Guards Mechanised Division.
Cold War
31st Guards Mechanised Division became the 25th Guards Motor Rifle Division around 1957, assigned to the 4th Army (IIIrd formation), and the 23rd Guards MRD in 1964. It was garrisoned in Ganja in the Shahumyan region. In 1988 it also included the 131st Tank Regiment, the 366th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (MRR) (equipped with BMPs) based at Stepanakert, and the 368th and 370th Guards MRRs, equipped with BTRs. The division's regimental artillery battalions were equipped with towed D-30 artillery pieces.
Elements of the division took part in Operation Ring in May 1991. During the operation the division's commander was Colonel Budeykin. Immediately following this, the larger scope of combat engagements in the area of Stepanakert took place, including the use of BM-21 "Grad" artillery and Mil Mi-24 assault helicopters through to February 1992.
The division, along with the other three divisions of the 4th Army, was ordered to be withdrawn amidst the fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh War in May and June. Elements of the 366th MRR appear to have been involved in the Khojaly massacre of February 1992. The regiment was under the command of Colonel Yuri Zarvigorov. However, on June 21, 1992 the divisional column was prevented from departing Ganja by the civilian Azerbaijani population. The Azerbaijanis demanded that the division surrender its military equipment during Azeri declaration of independence, and the division commander, General Major Yury Pokhamov, complied to avoid civilian casualties. This was largely due to a lack of direction and indecision at Headquarters Transcaucasian Military District and at the General Staff. This did not occur because for the most part the officers of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment had begun to offer assistance to the Armenian population, while the units based in Ganja deciding to side with the Azeri population. This was largely due to about 50 of the remaining 350 personnel of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment being Armenian, including the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Major Seyran Ohanyan. Of particular use to the Armenians was the regimental tank company's ten tanks.
The division was disbanded in July 1992, after having been forced to hand over most of its weaponry to Azerbaijan. Its traditions, honors and awards were transferred to the 13th Motor Rifle Division.