109th Territorial Defense Brigade (Ukraine) explained

Unit Name:109th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces
Dates:1 July 2018 - present
Country: Ukraine
Type:Military reserve force
Role:Light infantry
Branch:Armed Forces of Ukraine
Command Structure: Territorial Defense Forces
Garrison:
А7037
Native Name:Ukrainian: 109-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони

The 109th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Ukrainian: 109-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони) is a military formation of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast. It is part of Operational Command East.

History

Formation

Head of Donetsk Oblast military civilian administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi on 27 April 2018 announced that a Brigade will be formed in Donetsk Oblast. Battalions were planned to be in Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Pokrovsk and two in Mariupol.[1] On 1 July 2018 the brigade was formed in Donetsk Oblast.[2] 3,500 soldiers aged twenty-five to sixty-years old signed 3-5 year contracts. Five day exercises were planned in Bakhmut starting 25 September for the 6 battalions. Battalions were stationed in Mariupol, Bakhmut, Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, Marinka and Volnovakha.[3]

104th Defense Battalion was made up of reservists from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Toretsk and Sloviansk.[4]

Russo-Ukrainian War

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The 104th Defense Battalion fought in Bakhmut from 24 February to November. From December to January 2023, the battalion was moved to Sumy Oblast to help protect the border. In January and February, the battalion was involved in combat near Kreminna.[4]

In April 2023, brigade commander Colonel Anatolii Vyshnevskyi stated that units of the brigade had fought in Lyman, Bahmut, Avdiivka, Vodiane, Marinka, Vuhledar and Mariupol. He also stated that 54 prisoners of war had returned home.[5]

Structure

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:[3]

Commanders

Insignia

Emblem shows a crossed silver spear with a sabre. This image was used as a seal for Kalmius Palanka, a territorial district within the organization of the Zaporozhian Host the Lower, current territory of Donetsk Oblast.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: На Донеччині створять бригаду територіальної оборони. Ukrinform. uk. 27 April 2018. 22 August 2023. A territorial defense brigade will be created in Donetsk region.
  2. Web site: Щиро вітаю вас з 5-ю річницею створення бригади!. Facebook. uk. 1 July 2023. 22 August 2023. I sincerely congratulate you on the 5th anniversary of the creation of the brigade!.
  3. News: На Донеччині сформовано бригаду територіальної оборони. vchasnoua.com. uk. 20 September 2018. 22 August 2023. A territorial defense brigade was formed in Donetsk region.
  4. News: Сила і правда – на нашому боці! На цьому стоїмо, за це боремось! – бійці Бахмутського батальйону Сил ТрО йдуть у бій з молитвою. mrpl.city. uk. 2 August 2023. 22 August 2023. Strength and truth are on our side! This is what we stand for, this is what we are fighting for! - fighters of the Bakhmut Battalion of the TrO Forces go into battle with a prayer.
  5. Web site: Vovk. Yehor. Командир Донецької бригади ТРО: "Головне, що в людей висока мотивація". ostro.org. uk. 13 April 2023. 5 December 2023. The commander of the Donetsk TRO brigade: "The main thing is that people have high motivation".
  6. Web site: Telegram Web . 2024-02-13 . web.telegram.org . en.
  7. Web site: Zahrebelnyi. Volodymyr. Затверджено нарукавні емблеми для окремих бригад тероборони. ArmyInform. uk. 16 September 2021. 5 December 2023. Sleeve emblems for individual Teroborona brigades have been approved.