8th Melitopolskaya Red Banner Missile Division
8-я ракетная Мелитопольская Краснознаменная дивизия
Military Unit: 44200
Commanders:
Major-General Aleksandr Georgievich Savelev, 14.6.61 - 28.5.65
Major-General Andrey Grigorevich Gontarenko, 28.5.65 - 20.5.71
Major-General Veniamin Pavlovich Plyusnin, 20.5.71 - 18.3.76
Major-General Vladimir Efimovich Balikhin, 18.3.76 - 5.8.81
Major-General Anany Vasilevich Politsyn, 5.8.81 - 1.12.85
Major-General Vladimir Aleksevich Babeshko, 1.12.85 - 21.1.89
Major-General Vladimir Ivanovich Kalyanov, 21.1.89 - 30.11.93
Major-General Vasily Ivanovich Malafeev, 30.11.93 - 14.6.95
Major-General Gennady Nikolaevich Kovalenko, 14.6.95 - 16.6.99
Major-General Sergey Aleksandrovich Artemev, 16.6.99 - 3.9.02
Major-General Vitaly Vasilevich Golovach, 3.9.02 - 9.11.05
Colonel Eduard Evgenevich Stefanchev, 8.12.05 - today
Activated 20.7.60 in Yurya, Kirov Oblast, as the 25th Missile Brigade, from parts of the 24th Artilley Range Administration. Awards and honours from the 91st Motorised Rifle Division.
From 10.3.61 under the 5th independent Missile Corps.
Initial organisation:
107th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast)
116th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast)
131st Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast)
527th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast)
In 30.5.61 renamed 8th Missile Division.
In March 1964 all R-16 battalions were upgraded to regiments:
107th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 3 R-16 silos
116th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
131st Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
527th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
143rd Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
640th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
776th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 3 R-16 silos
700th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
299th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
603rd Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads
715th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 3 R-16 silos
In 1968 the 131st and 527th Missile Regiments were transferred to Kostroma (10th Guards Missile Division), while the 640th Missile Regiment were transferred to Teykovo (54th Guards Missile Division).
In 1969 the 116th and 143rd Missile Regiments were transferred to Kozelsk (28th Guards Missile Division).
From 8.6.70 attached to the 27th Guards Missile Army.
In 1971 the 299th and 700th Missile Regiments were transferred to Khmelnitskiy (19th Missile Division).
From 8.6.70 attached to the 27th Guards Missile Army.
Organisation 1972 (16 R-16 pads and 9 R-16 silos):
776th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 4 R-16 pads and 3 R-16 silos
107th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 2 R-16 pads and 3 R-16 silos
603rd Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 6 R-16 pads
715th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 4 R-16 pads and 3 R-16 silos
The R-16 missile was phased out in 1977 - the 603rd and 000 Missile Regiments were disbanded in 1978.
Three Missile Regiments arrived at Yurya, Kirov Oblast, during the 1978-1980 period.
Organisation 1984 (45 RSD-10 Pioner-K missiles):
776th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RSD-10 Pioner-K missiles
107th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RSD-10 Pioner-K missiles
304th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RSD-10 Pioner-K missiles
76th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RSD-10 Pioner-K missiles
79th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RSD-10 Pioner-K missiles
The division converted to the RT-2PM Topol (SS-25) missile in 1985.
Organisation 1998 (45 RT-2PM Topol missiles) :
776th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RT-2PM Topol missiles
107th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RT-2PM Topol missiles
304th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RT-2PM Topol missiles
76th Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RT-2PM Topol missiles
79th Guards Missile Regiment (Yurya, Kirov Oblast) with 9 RT-2PM Topol missiles
The 107th and 79th Guards Missile Regiments were disbanded in 2004.
Support units:
2434th Technical Missile Base (military unit: 12829)
20th Communications Center (military unit: 42800)
Yurya ICBM complex coordinates:
