the 51st guards mechanized brigade was a formation of the ukrainian ground forces, stationed at volodymyr-volynskyi in volyn oblast, on the border with poland. the brigade drew its history from the 51st guards rifle division, which was formed from the 76th rifle division midway through the second world war. in late 1942, the 76th rifle division decimated the german force holding and protecting kletskaya, a key industrial city with numerous metal works factories. for it, the division was promoted to guards (советская гвардия) status on november 23, 1942, and became known as the 51st guards rifle division.