831st Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)

The 659th Fighter Aviation Regiment (659 IAP) was formed in Krasnovodsk (now Turkmenbashi Turkmenistan) on 27 November 1941.[1] The regiment became part of the 'Active Army' on 8 January 1942, having commenced military operations as part of the 4th Mixed Aviation Division, 4th Shock Army, Kalinin Front. During the first two months of combat operations, the regiment carried out 123 sorties (13 of them, nightly), was involved in 13 air battles, shot down 8 enemy aircraft, and destroyed 22 motor vehicles, 112 wagons and two steam locomotives. In October 1942, the 659 IAP was subordinated to the 288th Fighter Aviation Division (288 IAD).[2]

On 29 December 1944, for the courage and heroism of the regiments personnel, manifested in the liberation of the cities Galati and Izmail for which the regiment was awarded the honorary title "Galatsky". In 1945, for the execution of combat tasks during the Danube River overrun and the breakthrough of the enemy's defense, the regiment was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, III Degree, and for the liberation of Budapest, an Order of the Red Banner. By the end of the war in May 1945, the 659 IAP was based at Münchendorf Airfield in Austria.[3]

During operations on the Eastern Front, the unit carried out 9960 combat missions in 10,451 hours, conducted 531 air battles, destroyed 417 planes and 838 units of military equipment.

Having been based in the Balkans after the war, in October 1947 the 659 IAP relocated to Boryspil Air Base, Kyiv Oblast, in Ukraine. On 20 February 1949, the 659 IAP was renumbered as the 831st Fighter Aviation Regiment (831 IAP), with unit's parent division (288 IAD) becoming the 138 IAD, based on an order from the 10 January 1949.[2] In 1949, the 831 IAP received their first jet aircraft – the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15.[1]

The regiment operated the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 between 1951 and 1966 before converting to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21.[1]

In 1977, the 831 IAP relocated to Myrhorod Air Base, Poltava Oblast, from Boryspil Air Base.[2] In 1985, the 831 IAP became the first front-line unit in the Soviet Air Forces to convert to the Sukhoi Su-27 "Flanker".[3] Its first six Flankers were delivered on 10 November 1985, fully converting to the new platform on 27 October 1986.[3]

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker Blue 58 of the 831 BrTA in flight, 2018.

Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on 24 August 1991, which was approved via a referendum on 1 December.[4] On 13 January 1992, the 831 IAP took an oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people.[3] The Ukrainian Air Force was established on 17 March 1992,[5] with the 831 IAP becoming the 831 VAP.[3]

In 1996, pilots of the Myrgorod regiment participated in a military parade to honour the 5th Independence Day of Ukraine, with four Su-27s accompanying a Tupolev Tu-160. In 1997, the 831 VAP hosted a visit from United States Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagles of the 4th Fighter Wing (4th FW).[1] In June 1998, Colonel Ivan Chernenko conducted the first visit of a Ukrainian Su-27UB to the United States, flying to the home of the 4th FW at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.[1] In March 2000, 831 VAP was assigned to the 35th Aviation Group (35 AvG).[3]

On 1 August 2003, the 831 VAP was reassigned to the 5th Aviation Corps (Ukraine) (5 AvK) leading to the regiment becoming the 831st Fighter Aviation Brigade (831 VABr).[3] On 25 January 2005, the fighter air force was subordinated to the Air Command of the Air Force "Center" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Myrgorod regiment has participated in multiple international airshows throughout Europe, including in the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Romania, and Turkey. During Slovak International Air Display 2004, Lieutenant-Colonel Fedir Tyshchuk's Su-27 display was recognised as the best individual flight.[1]

In October 2007, the unit received its current name of the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade (831 BrTA).[3]

Between 19 and 26 July 2011, 'Safe Sky 2011' (a joint Ukrainian-American-Polish military exercise) was held in the Poltava region at which military aircraft and helicopters carried out anti-terrorist actions aimed at protecting against an attack.[6] Su-27, MiG-29, L-39, Antonov An-26, An-26M "Rescuer", Mi-8, F-16C, and C-130 aircraft took part in the exercises.[7] The 831st Brigade pilots interacted with the pilots of the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard.

The 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade marked its 70th anniversary on 27 November 2011 with a new Battle Flag.

Currently, the Brigade is a part of the Rapid Reaction Force in the system APO. Three planes are based on the Odesa school airfield.[8]

On 10 February 2016, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, by decree, named Su-27P1M Blue 50 of the 831 BrTA 'Vasyl Nikiforov' in honour of Lieutenant-General Nikiforov Vasyl Semenovych.[9]

On 1 December 2018, the brigade received an upgraded Su-27S1M and two L-39 M1.[10]