Glorious Intelligence Units

The 8th Separate Special Forces Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was formed on the basis of the 8th Separate Special Forces Brigade. For its part, the 8th Separate Special Forces Brigade was formed in December 15, 1962 on the basis of the Directive of Chief of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces in the town of Iziaslav in Khmelnytskyi region.

High performance and excellent results were shown by the scouts of the brigade during the exercises “Spring-75”, “Vanguard-76”, “West-81”, “Watch-86”, and “Autumn-88”.

The bright page in the history of the 8th Separate Special Forces Brigade was written by the legendary 186 Separate Detachment of Special Forces, which was formed on the basis of the brigade to perform tasks in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). In April 1985, 186th Separate Detachment of Special Forces arrived in the DRA and became a part of the 22nd Separate Brigade of Special Forces. The village of Shahjoi became the point of a constant dislocation of the detachment. In the area of responsibility of the 22nd Separate Brigade of Special Forces was part of the Southern-East Afghanistan that was marked by numerous caravan routes by which Afghan rebels were supplied with weapons and ammunitions from Pakistan.

Immediately after their arrival, the scouts of detachment showed high efficiency action in the first operations against illegal armed groups. In fact, during the years of the Afghan war, the 186th Separate Detachment of Special Forces became one of the most efficient among eight Soviet Special Forces detachments operating on the territory of the DRA.

Commander of the 22nd Separate Brigade of Special Forces Colonel Herasimov D. M. (in the center) with the 186th Separate Detachment of Special Forces officers who first seized MANPADS

In 1988 the unit was taken out of Afghanistan and joined the 8th Separate Brigade of Special Forces. 84 reconnaissance men of the detachment were awarded orders and medals during their stay in Afghanistan. So herewith, three servicemen were awarded the title of Hero of the USSR – Captain Horoshko Ya. P., First Lieutenant Onishchuk O. P. (posthumously) and Junior Sergeant Islamov Yu. V. (posthumously). The detachment loss was 42 people.

Captain Horoshko Ya. P.	Lieutenant Onishchuk O. P.	Junior Sergeant Islamov Yu. V.

In 1990, the personnel of the 8th Separate Brigade of Special Forces participated in the restoration of law and order and ethnic conflicts location in the Caucasus republics of the former USSR.

After Ukraine gained its independence, the brigade was subordinated to the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, and military personnel swore allegiance to the Ukrainian people.

In September 2003, in accordance with the directives of the Minister of Defence of Ukraine and Commander of the Western Operational Command, the eighth Separate Special Forces Brigade was reorganized into the eighth Separate Special Forces Regiment.

In 2004, according to the directive of the Minister of Defence of Ukraine the 8 Separate Special Forces Regiment was relocated to the city of Khmelnytskyi.

The regiment scouts participated in many international exercises and peacekeeping operations. Overall more than 300 servicemen of the 8th separate regiment of Special Forces participated in peacekeeping operations in all parts of the world. Thus one of the toughest tests for personnel became the participation in peacekeeping operation in Iraq, in which was involved the regimental unit.

At present, due to persistent military labour, high professionalism and careful preservation of the glorious fighting traditions, the eighth Separate Special Forces Regiment is one of the leading special units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.