The brigade has a rather unusual history, in that it can trace its origins to a
Red Army division formed in 1918, which became best known as the
22nd Rifle Division (not to be confused with the
22nd Guards Rifle Division).
Historical names 2nd Infantry DivisionNikolayevsky Infantry Division30th Nikolayevsky Soviet Infantry Division3rd Separate Naval Infantry Regiment40th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade40th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade22nd Motor Rifle Division22nd Rifle Division
Early history The division was first formed on 22 September 1918, as the 2nd Infantry Division. It was based on guerrilla groups from
Nikolayevsk (in the
Volga region),
Novouzensk (in
Samara Governorate) and
Malousensk Volost (Samara Governorate), and two volunteer workers' units, from
Balashov and
Penza (both in the Volga region). From 2 October 1918 it was known as the Nikolayevsky Infantry Division, from 24 November 1918 as the 30th Nikolayevsky Soviet Infantry Division and from 13 January 1919 as the Nikolayevsky Infantry Division. After the previous redesignations, on 25 March 1919, it was named the 22nd Rifle Division. After the end of the
Russian Civil War, the division was stationed in Krasnodar. A few years later, the 74th Taman Territorial Rifle Division (1921–1942) separated from the division. For military services on February 21, 1931, the division was awarded the Honor of the
Red Banner. In 1937, the division was relocated to the Far East, where a military conflict with the Japanese was brewing. In the summer of 1938, the 195th Yeisk rifle regiment of the division took part in the
Battle of Lake Khasan.
Second World War At the start of
Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, the 22nd Rifle Division was stationed in the Far East. It did not take part in the battles with Germany, but between 1941 and 1943, the division sent 6086 soldiers to the Western Front. In May 1945, the 22nd Rifle Division became part of the
1st Red Banner Army, an independent coastal formation, in the
Russian Far East. It saw active service during the
Soviet invasion of Manchuria.
Cold War In late 1945, the 22nd Rifle Division became part of the
137th Rifle Corps at
Kamchatka. It was re-designated from 22nd Rifle Division to 22nd Motor Rifle Division in 1957, part of the
43rd Army Corps. In 1980 it became part of the new
25th Army Corps. In 1982, its 168th Tank Regiment became the 59th Separate Tank Battalion. During the late 1980s, the division included the following units: This situation lasted until March, 2009 when it became the 3rd Naval Infantry Regiment. In 2013, the regiment was redesignated back to become the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade. It is reported that its current commander (when?) is Colonel Valery Zhila. Today it is reported to include: • Assault (Airborne) Battalion • Naval Infantry Battalion • Artillery Battery • 186th NI Engineer Battalion The brigade also incorporates a tank battalion which reportedly re-equipped with the
T-80BV main battle tank in 2021. It was reported on 19 March 2022 that the brigade was transferred to Belarus to replenish Russian losses after the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. By May 19, 2022, it was in active combat in Ukraine. The brigade was involved in the defence of
Urozhaine during the
2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive and was actively involved in the
2024 Velyka Novosilka offensive On 20 July 2023 the unit was awarded the "Guards" title. On 29 November 2024, elements of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade, along with the
37th Motor Rifle Brigade of Russia, raised the flag in the center of
Rozdolne and seized control of the settlement. As of September 2025, elements of the brigade were reported operating in eastern Ukraine together with elements from other naval infantry units, including the 177th naval infantry regiment as well as
the 155th,
61st and
336th naval infantry brigades. ==References==