On 1 March 1943, the Brigade was awarded Guards designation for successful actions near Stalingrad. At the end of March 1943 the Brigade was relocated to the Central Front near Kursk. Between 5–12 July 1943 the Brigade took part in the Battle of Kursk. It took part in the Liberation of Oryol, Hlukhiv, Konotop and on 29 September 1943 was one of the first units to cross the Dnieper River. On 6 November 1943 the Brigade was awarded the honorable name "Kiev" for liberating the city of Kiev.