The 13th Separate Airmobile Battalion is a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces. The Battalion is composed of fully professional soldiers. The main purpose of the Battalion is to take part in peacekeeping operations.
History
The battalion was created as part of the 95th Training Center of the Airborne Forces as the 13th Separate Parachute Battalion. After 2000, it was transferred to the military town of Korbutivka and is renamed the 13th Separate Airmobile Battalion.
In 1994, the 13th Separate Airborne Battalion was allocated from Ukraine to participate in the international partnership "Process of planning and assessment of forces". According to the plan for achieving partnership goals, the forces and means of the Ground Forces of Ukraine allocated to participate in the III stage of the force planning and assessment process for the 13th Separate Airborne Battalion were allocated several priority goals: language training, preparation for participation in peacekeeping, study of staff of NATO procedures, achieving the necessary level of interoperability in commanding, organizing, and conducting rear support.
The personnel of the battalion served in Iraq and Kosovo (international peace support force (PMU/KFOR) – 179).
Great Raid of 2014
The 13th Battalion, together with other units of the 95th Brigade, participated in the longest raid in modern military history through enemy rear lines. During 21 days of fighting, the paratroopers, who actually broke the way for other troops, traveled 160 kilometers through the territories captured by the militants, destroying powerful enemy fortifications on the way.
One of the most heroic episodes of the legendary raid is the Battle in Shakhtarsk Raion, where the infantrymen and artillerymen came together with the paratroopers, which made it possible to knock out the enemy and gain a foothold on the heights. After the unexpected start of massive artillery shelling from the territory of Russia and the resulting drastic change in the situation, the forces of the 13th battalion managed to lead a pontoon crossing across the Kalmius River. Before that, the paratroopers did not perform the work of sapper units in any training. They mastered their new military profession under enemy fire, and then for three days they were actually a commandant battalion that ensured order among those willing to cross the river as quickly as possible.
On the approach to Lysychansk, troops of the 13th Airmobile Battalion captured two roadblocks equipped according to all the requirements of military science. After that, they took control of the oil refinery, preventing its destruction.
Second Battle of Donetsk Airport
In January 2015, the 13th Battalion was at the point of permanent deployment in Zhytomyr, restoring combat capability. On Saturday, January 17, the "Collection" team arrived.
Two tactical groups were formed from the battalion. The fighters of the first group were immediately sent to strengthen the defense of Pisky, a village located next to Donetsk International Airport.
The second tactical group of paratroopers arrived near Donetsk in the settlement of Lastochkine on January 23. The task of this group was to storm and seize a mine located between Avdiivka and Spartak. The mine was tactically important. Snipers and artillery correctors of the enemy worked from its buildings and territories. At 8 a.m., fighters of the 13th Battalion, together with the 1st Battalion of the 95th Brigade, went on the assault. An hour and a half later, the mine was occupied. The paratroopers held the object for ten days, later they were replaced by fighters of the 11th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion.
The next task of the 13th battalion was to take the settlement of Spartak. They attacked in two encompassing directions, the assault lasted for several hours, but it was not possible to capture the settlement. After an unsuccessful assault attempt, the paratroopers were taken to a concentration area.
Battle of Debaltseve
When the column of the 13th Battalion was already on the march to the rear, an order came to send it to another problematic place - near Debaltseve. Right on the road, the convoy turned around and followed a new route and arrived in the Luhansk region on February 12.
The paratroopers had to ensure the exit from the semi-encirclement of the units defending Debaltseve by occupying two heights that allowed them to control the Debaltseve–Artemivsk route and the units' withdrawal route.