NPR writes that it has seen documents that make it clear that the 53rd anti-aircraft brigade was active last year in the city of Izhum, in the Kharkiv region. The unit was there for most of 2022, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
In September, Ukraine retook the region from Russia. In addition, the Ukrainian armed forces obtained documents in which the military units that fought around Izhum were named, including the 53rd brigade. The Kharkiv prosecutor’s office confirmed to NPR that the unit has been active in the area.
The 53rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade supplied the Buk missile that shot down the Malaysia Airlines plane in July 2014. 298 people died, including 196 Dutch people. In February, Russian President Putin awarded another honorary title to the brigade.