Active Since April 2014 Role Infantry Brigade | Branch Army Size about 3,000 troops | |
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Allegiance Novorossiya
Lugansk People's Republic Part of United Armed Forces of Novorossiya | ||
The "Prizrak" Brigade (in Russian: Бригада «Призрак») (meaning "Ghost Brigade"), formerly commanded by Aleksey Mozgovoy, is an infantry unit of the Lugansk People's Republic. The full name of the Brigade is Mechanized Brigade Prizrak.
Contents
History
The unit was established in late 2014 after pro-Russian protesters occupied the RSA buildings in Luhansk. It began as a platoon sized unit, but in August 2014 it became a battalion as the number of fighters grew to 1,000. The commander of the Brigade Aleksey Mozgovoy claimed in late December 2014 to have up to 3,000 fighters. Mozgovoi was killed in an IED and gun attack 23 May 2015 along with a number of his bodyguards despite surviving a similar ambush two months prior to his death. A supposed covert Ukrainian military unit named "shadows" claimed both attacks however the two incidents appears to be their only active engagements throughout the conflict which fueled a number of theories including Russian involvement.
The stated goal of prizrak is to be both a military combat unit as well as socialist political organisation which would make them the only military unit operating within the structures of Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic (Novorossian Armed Forces) that have a dual objective. Membership of prizrak comprises primarily of east Ukrainians and Russian nationals however due to their political ethos the unit does draw in a number of western nationals from Spain, Italy, Chile, France, Germany, United States, Brazil, and the UK. Primary military activities include battlefield reconnaissance, sabotage, covert assault, and other intelligence activities. Political activities include promotion of socialist policy, electoral promotion activities, social care projects in Alchevsk, Kirovsk, Bryanka and Donetskiy.
It was transformed in 2015 into the 4th Territorial Defense Battalion (Reinforced).
Notable military operations
The Battle of Debaltseve prizrak units conducted reconnaissance missions which included landmine clearance for main assault forces corrective artillery information and anti armour activities.