540th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment | |
---|---|
540-й зенітний ракетний полк | |
Active | 1992 – present |
Country | Ukraine |
Allegiance | Ukraine |
Branch | Ukrainian Air Force |
Type | Missile |
Role | Anti-Aircraft |
Part of | Air Command West |
Garrison/HQ | Kamianka-Buzka and Lutsk Air Base |
Nickname(s) | Ivan Vyhovsky Regiment Lviv Regiment |
Patron | Ivan Vyhovsky |
Equipment | S-200D and S-300PT |
Engagements | Russo-Ukrainian war |
Decorations | For Courage and Bravery |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Viacheslav Evgenovich Shamko |
Insignia | |
Former Insignia | |
Collar Insignia |
The 540th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment "Lviv Ivan Vyhovsky" is a regiment of the Ukrainian Air Force tasked with air defense operations throughout Lviv Oblast and Volyn Oblast. It operates S-200D and S-300PT Missile defense systems and is subordinated to the Air Command West. It is headquartered at Kamianka-Buzka and Lutsk Air Base.
In 1992, following the Dissolution of the Soviet union, the personnel of the 540th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment swore allegiance to Ukraine.
On 21 April 1999, the honorary name "Lviv" was assigned to the regiment. [1]
On 23 June 2006, a combat flag was presented to the regiment. [2]
In 2008, the regiment was assigned the honorary name of "Ivan Vyhovsky" who was the Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host during the 17th Century. [3]
In 2012, the unit provided air defense operations for Euro 2012.
On October 30, 2013, the regiment was the last to operate S-200B but they were stripped off from the regiment as its S-200 division ceased to exist. [4]
In 2019, the regiment won the annual competition for the title "Best S-300 Anti-Aircraft Missile Division" and won the main prize - 180,000 hryvnias after successfully destroying most targets. [5]
In March 2021, the regiment's division was deployed in the Volyn Oblast at the Lutsk Air Base to strengthen the air defense in a new sector of responsibility. [6] [7]
The base of the regiment, the Lutsk Air Base was the target of Russian airstrikes by Russian armed forces on 27 February and 11 March 2022. [8] and the airbase was completely destroyed, according to the town mayor. [9]
On 5 August 2023, the 540th regiment was awarded the honorary award "For Courage and Bravery". [10]
In 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force received S-200 longe-range anti-aircraft missiles, and they were inducted into the regiment, equipped with modern electronics. [11] [12]
The structure of the regiment is as follows [13]
The S-300 is a series of long-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the former Soviet Union. It was produced by NPO Almaz for the Soviet Air Defence Forces to defend against air raids and cruise missiles.
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