16-та бригада армійської авіації підрозділ Сухопутних військ Збройних сил України.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 119th Helicopter Regiment of the Soviet Army was transferred under the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in December 1991. On August 26, 1994, the regiment was reformed and expanded into the 3rd Army Aviation Brigade and reassigned under the command of the 38th Army Corps.
In June 1995, the brigade partook in peacekeeping missions in Yugoslavia with Western partners, and also was part of the Kosovo Force as part of the Partnership for Peace program.
In October 1998, the brigade became subordinated to Оперативне командування Захід. In December 2003, the brigade was downsized and became the 3rd Army Aviation Regiment. On August 26, 2004, the brigade was later expanded back to its original form, becoming a brigade in strength again.
In 2005, the brigade was reassigned to the 8th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. In December 2012, it was reformed into the 16-та бригада армійської авіації and would later become directly subordinated to the Operational Command West.
After the outbreak of the War in Donbas, the brigade participated in support of combat operations. On May 2, 2014, it participated in the largest aviation operation of the Ukrainian military since the beginning of the conflict, and 2 of its Mi-24 helicopters were shot down near Slovyansk. On June 24, 2014, a singular Mi-8 of the brigade was also shot down near Slovyansk, killing 9 people, including Major Ruslan Mazunov. On August 7, 2014, another Mi-8 was shot down near Berezove, Donetsk Oblast.
On August 24, 2015, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko presented the brigade with the distinction ribbon For Courage and Bravery to the then-brigade commander, Colonel Ihor Yaramenko.
On August 23, 2017, the brigade was stripped of its Soviet awards and title. A day later, the brigade was awarded its battle flag on Ukrainian Independence Day. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the brigade immediately responded to repel Russian advances in northern Ukraine, heading to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
On February 28, 2022, an Mi-8 helicopter of the brigade was hit by an enemy missile, and following the liberation of Kyiv Oblast, three of its crew were recovered and buried in April 2022. On March 31, 2022, an Mi-8 helicopter, helping to evacuate wounded defenders from besieged Mariupol, was shot down, with its crew being killed in the village of Rybatske.
On April 5, 2022, in another attempt during the Mariupol airlifts, another Mi-8 helicopter was once again shot down, with Colonel Vyacheslav Olehovich Voronyi being killed. On July 2, 2025, the brigade received the honorary distinction award For Courage and Bravery.
Відзнаки
The insignia depicts a chevron with a deep blue canvas, and a grey silver border. At its core, lies a stylized silver grey fleur-de-lis, alongside five golden spearheads angled in five directions, mimicking a propeller.
