‘Chorni Zaporozhtsi’ still alive

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
Published on 30 August 2017, at 19:15

On August 30, 2017, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Herashchenko together with members of parliament Iryna Lutsenko and Mariia Ionova made a working visit to the Donetsk region

On August 30, 2017, the Presidential Commissioner of Ukraine on the peaceful settlement of the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions Iryna Herashchenko together with the Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Lutsenko and the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on European Integration Mariia Ionova made a working visit to the Donetsk region.

During the working visit, they visited several the separate 72 mechanized Krasnograd and Kyiv brigade in several departments, which was awarded the honorary name of the 72 separate mechanized brigade, named after the Chorni Zaporozhtsi. The politicians congratulated the soldiers on conferring an honorary title and took part in the “Chorni Zaporozhtsi” ceremony. Iryna Herashchenko noted the heroism and courage of the soldiers who properly serve in the East of Ukraine, protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine and selflessly serve the People of Ukraine.

On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Herashchenko presented the Honorary Diplomas and Certificates of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to officers of the 72 separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a significant personal contribution to the protection of the state sovereignty of Ukraine, shown in the tasks performance in the ATO zone, exemplary service and skillful military management in combat conditions.

In addition, the parliamentarians handed over to the units of the 72 brigade more than 130 books for their field libraries. The publications were provided by the State Committee of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine as part of the charitable work “Library for Donbas”, initiated by Ukrainian publishing houses.

The members of parliament I.Herashchenko, I.Lutsenko, M.Ionova passed the 72 SMB named after the Chorni Zaporozhtsi the necessary equipment for life support of the brigade, in particular, eight washing machines, twenty-four electric and oil heaters, twenty grass trimmers, fifteen microwave ovens and three induction cookers, as well as three laptops and seven printers.

During the visit I.Herashchenko, I. Lutsenko and M. Ionova visited and familiarized themselves with the work of divisions of the 72 SMB named after the Chorni Zaporozhtsi.

Nota bene

Chorni Zaporizhski (Black Zaporizhian) cavalry regiment, 1919. This colourful unit was formed in 1917 and distinguished itself as much by its recklessness as its courage. It provoked the clash with Denikin’s White troops in Kyiv in August 1919, which resulted in the expulsion of the Directory troops. During the winter of 1917-1918 the Chornoshlychniki (‘Black Shlyks’) wore a black or grey Cossack uniform and small fur hats with exaggeratedly long black shlyks. During the Hetmanate period they wore standard cavalry uniforms, but during the winter of 1918-1919 after the fall of the Hetman they succeeded in obtaining supplies of black and light grey cloth and reverted to their old uniforms. Unfortunately, there was no way to replenish these, so by the end of the year they were mostly in rags. The troopers of the regiment were mainly armed with the M1881/1909 Cossack shashka sabres and cavalry revolvers.