109th Territorial Defense Brigade (Ukraine)
| 109th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces | |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian: 109-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони | |
.svg) | |
| Active | 1 July 2018 - present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Type | Military reserve force |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Part of |  Territorial Defense Forces |
| Garrison/HQ |  Donetsk OblastMUN А7037 |
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[edit]
Formation[edit]
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[edit]
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[edit]
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[edit]
As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:[3]
- Headquarters (Mariupol)
- 104th Territorial Defense Battalion (Bakhmut) MUN А7270
- 105th Territorial Defense Battalion (Volnovakha) MUN А7271
- 106th Territorial Defense Battalion (Kramatorsk) MUN А7272
- 107th Territorial Defense Battalion (Mariupol) MUN А7273
- 108th Territorial Defense Battalion (Marinka) MUN А7274
- 109th Territorial Defense Battalion (Pokrovsk) MUN А7275
- FPV Drone Group "Muramasa"[6]
- Engineering Company
- Communication Company
- Logistics Company
- Mortar Battery
Commanders[edit]
- Colonel Andrii Haldak 2018[3] – 2019
- Colonel Anatolii Vyshnevskyi 2022 - present
Insignia[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "На Донеччині створять бригаду територіальної оборони" [A territorial defense brigade will be created in Donetsk region]. Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 27 April 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Щиро вітаю вас з 5-ю річницею створення бригади!" [I sincerely congratulate you on the 5th anniversary of the creation of the brigade!]. Facebook (in Ukrainian). 1 July 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "На Донеччині сформовано бригаду територіальної оборони" [A territorial defense brigade was formed in Donetsk region]. vchasnoua.com (in Ukrainian). 20 September 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Сила і правда – на нашому боці! На цьому стоїмо, за це боремось! – бійці Бахмутського батальйону Сил ТрО йдуть у бій з молитвою" [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]. mrpl.city (in Ukrainian). 2 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Vovk, Yehor (13 April 2023). "Командир Донецької бригади ТРО: "Головне, що в людей висока мотивація"" [The commander of the Donetsk TRO brigade: "The main thing is that people have high motivation"]. ostro.org (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "Telegram Web". web.telegram.org. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Zahrebelnyi, Volodymyr (16 September 2021). "Затверджено нарукавні емблеми для окремих бригад тероборони" [Sleeve emblems for individual Teroborona brigades have been approved]. ArmyInform (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 5 December 2023.