100th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

100th Separate Mechanized Brigade
100 окрема механізована бригада
100 okrema mekhanizovana bryhada
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active27 June 2018[1][2][3] – present
Country Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
RoleMechanized Infantry
Size2,000 (April 2024)[4]
Part of10th Army Corps
Garrison/HQLutsk, Volyn Oblast[5][6][7]
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial Facebook page
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Ruslan Tkachuk (2022 - present)[8]
Notable
commanders		Colonel Kucher Oleksandr (2018 - 2020)[9]
Insignia
Former sleeve insignia

The 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade (Ukrainian: 100 окрема механізована бригада, romanized: 100 okrema mekhanizovana bryhada), is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed on 27 June 2018.[1][2] The brigade was also a former territorial defense brigade until being reformed in late March 2024 as a Mechanized Brigade.[4]

It was reported by Forbes that the brigade is unsuited for frontline combat and was considered that it was lightly-equipped.[4]

History[edit]

Soldiers of the brigade with its standard.

Formation[edit]

In 2018, the brigade, known as the 100th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Ukrainian: 100-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони, romanized: 100-ta okrema bryhada teritorіalʹnoї oboroni), was formed in Volyn Oblast in order to serve as a defense unit for the area.[5] According to the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, it was an important part of the Defense Forces, and helped to defend the country's independence.[5]

Reforms[edit]

It was announced on 30 March 2024, by the brigade's press service, that the brigade was being reorganised under the designation of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade, being transferred to the Ground Forces component rather then the Territorial Defense Forces.[1] The brigade was only reformed on the basis of the existing units of the 100th Territorial Defense Brigade.

Russo-Ukrainian War[edit]

Servicemen of the 100th Territorial Defense Brigade in February 2024, equipped with small arms.

Russian invasion of Ukraine[edit]

The brigade, throughout its existence, has fought extensively throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine which begun on 24 February 2022.[10]

In July 2022, the was reportedly building fortifications on the northern border with Belarus in order to prevent a future Russian offensive that may have occurred towards Ukraine's northern border around Kyiv, an area previously attacked by Russia between February to April 2022.[11][12]

On 28 July 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded "For Courage and Bravery" title to the brigade, and became the first Territorial Defense Brigade to receive the award.[13]

It was reported by various Ukrainian media outlets that the brigade has fought extensively in the Bakhmut, Kupiansk, and Lyman directions in eastern Ukraine for over a year.[1][3] The brigade's command moved four other battalions, these being the Kovel, Kamen-Kashur, and the Volodymyr battalion's in early April 2023 to perform combat missions in the Lyman area of eastern Ukraine.[1]

Battle of Bakhmut[edit]

At the beginning of March 2023, it was reported that the Lutsk battalion, also being designated as the 53rd Territorial Defense Battalion within the brigade, moved to the Bakhmut direction, a point in time where according to Reuters - the battle for the city was grinding down Russia's best units.[14][1]

Battle of Ocheretyne[edit]

Ensuing Russia's offensive actions in Avdiivka throughout the winter of 2023 to 2024, capturing Avdiivka on 17 February 2024 after Ukraine's military withdrew from the area, many troops moved west in order to hold a defense against the Russian offensive in the vicinity.[15] The brigade was involved in the battle for Ocheretyne, a village west of Avdiivka which saw Russian offensive actions spearhead in late April to early May 2024 - capturing the village on 5 May 2024.[16]

In a report by Forbes, it was mentioned that the 100th Mechanized Brigade was not experienced, and that the 2,000 soldiers of the brigade had seen combat actions throughout the duration of the Russian invasion. However, it was mentioned that the brigade lacked heavy equipment alongside Western equipment such as tanks, fighting vehicles, and artillery.[4]

The brigade reportedly fought hard in the direction, allegedly intercepting the Russian 30th Motor Rifle Brigade as well as other units composing the Russian 41st Combined Arms Army when advancing towards the Prohres, a village seven miles to the west along the same railroad linking Avdiivka and Ocheretyne. In a report by DeepStateMap.Live, an online interactive Ukrainian mapping site, the 100th Mechanized Brigade successfully counterattacked a Russian advances towards Prohres, stopping the assault.[4]

Despite the efforts of the brigade, the village fell on 5 May 2024, with it being stated by The Guardian that it was left "left in ruins" after being battered in fighting.[17]

Structure[edit]

As of 30 March 2024 the brigade's structure is as follows:

  • 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade
    • Headquarters
    • 50th Territorial Defense Battalion (Ratne) MUN А7059[18]
    • 51st Territorial Defense Battalion (Kamin-Kashyrskyi) MUN А7060[18]
    • 52nd Territorial Defense Battalion (Manevychi) MUN А7061[18]
    • 53rd Territorial Defense Battalion (Lutsk) MUN А7062[7]
    • 54th Territorial Defense Battalion (Kovel) MUN А7063[19]
    • 55th Territorial Defense Battalion (Volodymyr) MUN А7064[20]
    • Counter-Sabotage Company
    • Engineering Company
    • Communication Company
    • Logistics Company
    • Mortar Battery

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "100-ту волинську бригаду територіальної оборони реорганізували: що саме змінили". Ковель медіа (in Ukrainian). 30 March 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Тільки вперед – до Перемоги: відкрили збір на потреби Волинської 100 бригади ТрО". vsn.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 December 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Настав час ставати ще потужнішими: Волинську 100-ту бригаду тероборони реорганізують". Волинські новини (in Ukrainian). 30 March 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Axe, David (24 April 2024). "As Russian Troops Broke Through Ukrainian Lines, Panicky Ukrainian Commanders Had No Choice But To Deploy One Of Their Least-Prepared Brigades". Forbes. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "100-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони – Сили територіальної оборони ЗСУ". Сили територіальної оборони ЗСУ (in Ukrainian). 21 November 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  6. ^ "100 окрема механізована бригада Сухопутних військ ЗСУ". Facebook. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Подвійне свято". Волинська газета (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Бійці Волинської бригади тероборони привітали українців з Новим роком. ВІДЕО". Перший канал соціальних новин (in Ukrainian). 1 January 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  9. ^ "На Волині проходять збори тероборони (фото)". Під прицілом (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  10. ^ "February 24, 2022: the day Russia invaded Ukraine". France 24. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  11. ^ "На кордоні з білоруссю тероборона Волині збудувала міцну лінію оборони". Ukrinform. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  12. ^ Burns, Robert (7 April 2022). "Russia's failure to take down Kyiv was a defeat for the ages". AP News. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Decree Of The President Of Ukraine No. 451/2022" (in Ukrainian). 28 June 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  14. ^ Harmash, Olena (11 March 2023). "Ukraine says Bakhmut battle is grinding down Russia's best units". Reuters. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  15. ^ Babenko, Alex; Arhirova, Hanna; Blann, Susie; Hinnant, Lori (11 March 2024). "Exhaustion, dwindling reserves and a commander who disappeared: How Ukraine lost Avdiivka to Russia". AP News. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Russia takes control of Ocheretyne village in Ukraine's east -defence ministry". Reuters. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  17. ^ Press, Associated (4 May 2024). "Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne left in ruins after Russian barrage". the Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "Скільки волинських призовників ухиляються від проходження строкової служби" [How many conscripts from Volyn evade military service]. kivadm.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 29 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  19. ^ Віталіївна, Семерей Руслана (25 February 2022). "Як записатися на військову службу за контрактом до 54 окремого батальйону територіальної оборони". Офіційний сайт Ковельської міської ради (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Волинська окрема бригада тероборони запрошує на військову службу за контрактом". Володимир. Офіційна сторінка міста (in Ukrainian). 1 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=100th_Mechanized_Brigade_(Ukraine)&oldid=1226608378"