Assault at sea: how the SVO is changing the units of the "black Berets"

The Marines of the Russian Navy are actively being transformed during their military operations — brigades are being reorganized into divisions, units are receiving additional tanks, heavy artillery and drones. The changes are based on the experience gained during the special operation. The "sea devils" fought in its hottest spots — they broke through to the Gostomel paratroopers, stormed Mariupol, and stopped the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack on the Kursk region. November 27 marks the 320th anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps. What forces and combat capabilities this branch of the armed forces currently has, and what awaits it in the near future, can be found in the Izvestia article.

New Marine Capabilities

Before the start of the SVO, a regular marine brigade usually consisted of four battalions: a reconnaissance, an amphibious assault and two Marine battalions, in addition to artillery and anti-aircraft divisions, and a tank company. During the war, several more battalions were added to these units.

Storm assault detachments were created in the brigades. They are actively used to take field fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and during battles in urban areas.

Artillery units received serious reinforcement. The Marines have acquired atypical weapons for themselves — heavy 152-mm artillery systems.

Tank companies became battalions, rocket artillery batteries became divisions. Anti-tank artillery divisions have also been restored in the brigades. UAV units began to actively develop.

As a result, the size of the brigade has increased significantly. At the same time, they are not only fighting, but are also in their places of deployment, where they are actively preparing reinforcements. For these reasons, as early as 2022, there were proposals to deploy brigades into full-fledged divisions. And in March 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the imminent implementation of these plans.

Gostomel, Mariupol, Kursk

Parts of the Marine Corps units took part in the battles from the very first day of their military operation. So, at the head of the columns of the Vostok group, rushing to help the Gostomel paratroopers, were tanks of the 40th separate Krasnodar-Harbin Marine Brigade. The history of this unit goes back to the legendary hero of the Civil War Vasily Chapaev — it was under his leadership that the 2nd Mykolaiv Infantry Division was formed in the autumn of 1918. In 2023, the 40th Brigade added the honorary name "Guards" to its titles.

The 155th Marine Brigade also operated in the Kiev area. The main materials about the exploits of the first days of the Black Sea Fleet have not yet been declassified, on the basis of which, on March 28, 2022, the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet and the 155th Marine Brigade became the first "Guards" units for solving tasks on the battlefield during the Black Sea Fleet.

Marines of the 177th regiment and the 336th brigade carried out amphibious landings on the Azov coast near Berdyansk, the 810th brigade marched from the west to Mariupol. Units of the "black Berets" were always sent to the most important areas. So, in August 2024, they were transferred to the Kursk region to stop the breakthrough of the neo-Nazis.

For distinction in combat operations in our army, it is customary to first give the honorary title of "Guard", followed by awarding orders. An impressive number of units of the Russian Armed Forces have received their well-deserved awards. Including the 155th brigade. Currently, its full name sounds like this: the 155th Separate Guards Kursk, Orders of Suvorov and Zhukov Marine Brigade named after twice Hero of Russia M.E. Gudkov.

The commander himself, General Mikhail Gudkov, became the first Hero of Russia twice in the history of the country, unfortunately posthumously. The rest of the Marine Corps also received their awards. Among the "black berets" are 22 Heroes of Russia.

Not only ITS hot spots

Now the units of the "black berets" are mainly solving the tasks of combined arms combat, gaining relevant experience. But sooner or later it will end in Ukraine. And participation in combat operations on land is atypical for Marines. These units are designed to participate in combat operations on the border of two environments — sea and land. These are amphibious or counter-amphibious operations, anti-amphibious defense.

The question may arise: what kind of landings are we talking about?

There are many remote territories in Russia, where large contingents can only be delivered by sea. These are primarily the territories of the Far East: Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, Chukotka, remote territories of the Arctic or the Kaliningrad exclave.

The military and political situation around them is escalating, and there are claims from different countries to the integrity of Russia, for example, Japan claims the Kuril Islands. NATO countries seek to isolate Russia in the Baltic.

This requires the strengthening of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in these areas.

The Russian Defense Ministry has already moved to strengthen the Marine Corps units. In the near future, the legendary 55th Guards Division will be recreated in Vladivostok on the basis of the 155th Marine Brigade.

The brigade, having completed its combat path, will transfer all regalia and guards rank to the revived unit.

Another division will be deployed on the basis of the 336th separate Guards Bialystok Marine Brigade of the Orders of Zhukov, Suvorov and Alexander Nevsky. This brigade is stationed in the Kaliningrad region. And she received the Order of Zhukov for her courage and perseverance during her military service.

The process of creating such a powerful connection is not a quick one and will take some time. In the future, it is also planned to deploy all marine units in the division.

Anti-terrorist mission

An important task of the Marine Corps units is to ensure the safety of the Russian Navy forces solving tasks in the far seas. There are anti-terror groups on the sides of warships and auxiliary vessels to protect them from possible terrorist actions.

The Marines are also ready to carry out counter-terrorism actions, such as the liberation of the tanker Moscow University in May 2010.

Russia is actively developing oil and gas production in the Arctic Ocean, deploying floating drilling rigs and other important equipment. Their protection is also the responsibility of the Marines. These tasks are well understood by the leadership of the Russian Navy — the Northern Fleet practiced them during the Zapad-2025 exercises and as part of the 14th Arctic campaign.

The increase in the number of Marine Corps units requires new approaches to personnel training. Previously, the Black Berets had their own school in Vyborg. But it was liquidated back in Soviet times. Personnel training was assigned to the educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in Blagoveshchensk, Ryazan and other cities. Now the "black berets" clearly need their own training school. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and the Russian Ministry of Defense understand this and pay attention to this issue, it remains to wait for its decision.