Polish-Soviet War Soviet invasion of Poland Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina World War II Vasily Chapayev Vladimir Kurdyumov Kuzma Trubnikov Ivan Yefimovich Petrov The 25th Rifle Division (Russian: 25-я стрелковая дивизия) was a rifle division of the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War, formed twice.

The division was transferred west to fight in the Polish–Soviet War and was stationed in Ukraine during the interwar period.

The division was formed in 1918 at the beginning of the Russian Civil War under the command of Vasily Chapayev.

It aided the successful defence of Kiev against the Poles, before moving on to capture Kovel and participate in further operations along the Southern Bug.

The division transferred to the Odessa Military District in May 1940 in preparation for the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia in June and July of that year.

The division arrived in Sevastopol in time to prepare for the defence of the port against the oncoming German offensive.