td) (Russian: 15-я гвардейская танковая Мозырская Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия (15 гв.

The infantry and tanks of the division's 41st Guards Mechanized Regiment were the first to advance through the hypocenter, protected only by gas masks.

[1] As a frontline division based in Europe, the 15th Guards was maintained at near full strength until the end of the Cold War, and fielded 325 T-62 tanks according to 1974 US intelligence data.

In 1990, the division began withdrawing to Chebarkul in the Volga–Ural Military District as Soviet forces pulled out of Europe.

According to data released under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the 721st Guards fielded 29 T-72, 118 BMP (70 BMP-2, 41 BMP-1, seven BRM-1K), 18 2S1 Gvozdika, 12 2S12 Sani, 9 BMP-1KSh, 2 PRP-3, 1 PRP-4, 1 R-145BM, 1 R-156 BTR, two PU-12, two BREM-2, 2 MT-55A, 24 MT-LBT.

The division was originally planned to disband on the completion of the withdrawal, but was retained by the Russian Ground Forces.

[17] The 239th Guards Vitebsk Order of Suvorov Tank Regiment of the division continued to exist as of 7 June 2001, when it was commanded by Colonel N.