116th Territorial Defense Brigade (Ukraine)

The 116th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Ukrainian: 116-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони) is a military formation of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine in Poltava Oblast. It is part of Operational Command North.

116th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces
Ukrainian: 116-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони
Active25 June 2018 - present
Country Ukraine
BranchArmed Forces of Ukraine
TypeMilitary reserve force
RoleLight infantry
Part of Territorial Defense Forces
Garrison/HQ Poltava Oblast
MUN А7044[1]

History

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Formation

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On 25 June 2018 the brigade was formed in Poltava Oblast.[1] From 25 to 29 September units of brigade took part in large strategic command-staff training "Cossack Volition – 2018".[2] By the end of 2018, more than 4,000 reservist completed rifle days, where they received basic training and instructions on how to fulfill their duties as territorial defense forces.[3]

In June 2019 Brigade held a large scale, 7 day exercise.[4]

On 17 February 2022 Brigade commander Lieutenant colonel Kalentiev Kostiantyn informed that brigade had a core of 300 contract officers, sergeants and soldiers.[5]

Russo-Ukrainian War

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2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

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When on 26 February Russian Armed Forces invaded, they reached North-East parts of Poltava Oblast. First battle happened in Vepryk. During the night of 26-27 February units of the brigade along with various regular Ukrainian Armed Forces formations, destroyed 2 columns in vicinity of Hadiach. On containing 29 vehicles and another 150.[6] For more than 10 days heavy battles raged on border of Poltava and Sumy Oblasts. Each time Russian forces tried to cross Sula river, they were stopped by artillery units of the Brigade. In those battles brigade captured lots of enemy tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft guns.[1] On 9 March Brigade destroyed another enemy column,[7] capturing 3 tanks which were transferred to regular army units.[8] Units of the Brigade took part in liberation of Sumy Oblast. Later was involved in 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, it remained in Kharkiv region till the end of 2022.[9]

In January 2023 units of the Brigade were fighting near Soledar and Bakhmut.[10] Later it was sent to Toretsk. After a short rest and recuperation Brigade saw action near Marinka and Avdiivka.[9]

Structure

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

  • Headquarters
  • 144th Territorial Defense Battalion (Poltava) MUN А7310[11]
    • Aerial Reconnaissance Group "Nightingales" ("Solovey")[12]
  • 145th Territorial Defense Battalion (Kremenchuk) MUN А7311[13]
  • 146th Territorial Defense Battalion (Hadiach) MUN А7312[14]
  • 147th Territorial Defense Battalion (Lubny) MUN А7313[15]
  • 148th Territorial Defense Battalion (Myrhorod) MUN А7314[16]
  • 149th Territorial Defense Battalion (Lokhvytsia) MUN А7315[17]
  • Counter-Sabotage Company
  • Engineering Company
  • Communication Company
  • Logistics Company
  • Mortar Battery

Commanders

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  • Lieutenant colonel Kalentiev Kostiantyn 2019 - February 2022
  • Colonel Chakhlov Oleksandr[1] February 2022 - present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fonin, Yaroslava (30 June 2022). "Понад 10 днів на перетині Полтавської та Сумської точилися важкі бої — інтерв'ю з учасником подій «Гадяцького сафарі»" [For more than 10 days, heavy battles were fought at the intersection of Poltava and Sumy - an interview with a participant of the Hadiach Safari events]. poltavawave.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Полтавці долучилися до військових навчань. ФОТО" [Poltava citizens participated in military exercises. PHOTO]. poltava365.com (in Ukrainian). 29 September 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. ^ "На Полтавщині готують підрозділи територіальної оборони" [Territorial defense units are being prepared in Poltava Oblast]. np.pl.ua (in Ukrainian). 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. ^ Dushenko, Aliona (3 June 2019). "Під Кременчуком стрілятимуть: розпочались навчальні збори бригади тероборони" [They will shoot near Kremenchuk: training sessions of the ground defense brigade have begun]. np.pl.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ Synytska, Daryna (17 February 2022). "Наступного тижня у Полтавській ОДА запрацює рекрутинговий центр для запису в тероборону" [Next week, a recruiting center for enlisting in the Teroboron will open in the Poltava Regional State Administration]. poltava.to (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. ^ Synytska, Daryna (27 February 2022). "У Полтавській області знищили колону з російськими танками" [A convoy of Russian tanks was destroyed in the Poltava region]. poltava.to (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ^ Synytska, Daryna (10 March 2022). "На кордоні між Сумщиною та Полтавщиною військові й тероборона знищили кілька десятків одиниць російської техніки" [On the border between Sumy Oblast and Poltava Oblast, the military and territorial defense forces destroyed several dozen units of Russian equipment]. poltava.to (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  8. ^ Synytska, Daryna (11 March 2022). "Тероборона Полтавщини захопила три російські танки і передала їх ЗСУ" [Territorial Defense Forces of Poltava Oblast captured 3 Russian tanks and transferred them to Ukrainian Armed Forces]. poltava.to (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b Kruk, Viktor (17 May 2023). "Володимир Зеленський подякував бійцям 116 бригади територіальної оборони з Полтавщини" [Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the soldiers of the 116th Territorial Defense Brigade from Poltava Oblast]. telegraf.in.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  10. ^ Sirobab, Natalka (27 January 2023). "Дмитро Лунін – про 116-у бригаду тероборони: «Це не мій рівень відповідальності – надавати оцінку діям військових»" [Dmytro Lunin - about the 116th ground defense brigade: "It is not my level of responsibility to evaluate the actions of the military"]. kolo.news (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  11. ^ Synytska, Daryna (15 February 2022). "5,3 млн грн спрямує Полтава на формування і підтримку територіальної оборони наступні 3 роки" [UAH 5.3 million will be directed by Poltava to the formation and support of territorial defense for the next 3 years]. poltava.to (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  12. ^ "SOLOVEY". Telegram. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  13. ^ Pavlenko, Svitlana (11 January 2022). "У Кременчуці з'явився новий окремий військовий підрозділ, який "поселять" в приміщення наркодиспансера" [A new separate military unit has appeared in Kremenchuk, which will be "settled" in the premises of the drug dispensary]. kg.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  14. ^ Lysohor, Mykola (30 January 2023). "За останній тиждень стало відомо про загибель 32-х захисників з Полтавщини" [In the last week, it became known about the death of 32 defenders from Poltava Oblast]. poltava.to (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  15. ^ "У Лубнах провели навчання з тероборони" [Territorial defense units training was held in Lubny]. np.pl.ua (in Ukrainian). 21 February 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Спочивай з миром, миргородський воїне!" [Rest in peace, Myrhorod warrior!]. myrgorod.pl.ua (in Ukrainian). 17 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  17. ^ Radko, Viktor (3 October 2021). "3 жовтня – День територіальної оборони України" [October 3 is the Day of Territorial Defense of Ukraine]. lmr.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.