118th Territorial Defense Brigade (Ukraine)

118th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces
Ukrainian: 118-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони
Active	7 November 2018 – present
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Armed Forces of Ukraine
Type	Military reserve force
Role	Light infantry
Part of	Territorial Defense Forces
Garrison/HQ	Cherkasy Oblast MUN  А7046 [1]
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Yaroslav Popko
Notable commanders	Anatolii Stuzhenko (2018–unknown)
Insignia
Flag

The 118th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Ukrainian : 118-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони) is a military formation of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine in Cherkasy Oblast. It is part of Operational Command North.

History

Formation

On 7 November 2018, the brigade was formed in Cherkasy Oblast. It was created over the course of 3-4 months, based on the existing battalion from Cherkasy, and Colonel Stuzhenko Anatolii was appointed as its commander. The brigade was planned to consist of about 4,000 older reservists, 40–60 years old. ^[2] The formation included six battalions in Smila, Zolotonosha, Uman, Zhashkiv, Zvenyhorodka, and Cherkasy. ^{[3] [4]}

From 5–11 August 2019, the brigade held a large-scale exercise involving headquarters and all six battalions. Troops trained in tactical medicine, engineering training, the basics of topography and communications, and target practice. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

On 2 February 2022, commander Colonel Stuzhenko Anatolii announced that the brigade was 70% formed. ^[8]

Russo-Ukrainian War

Russian invasion of Ukraine

During the first week of March, two battalions were fully staffed with reservists. ^[9] In April, one brigade unit took part in the battle of Popasna, helping defend the city for 14 days. ^[10] The formation was awarded its battle flag on 14 October 2022. ^[11]

The 157th Territorial Defense Battalion from Zolotonosha operated in the territory of Cherkasy Oblast and was later sent to strengthen neighboring Poltava Oblast. The unit also fought in the battle of Bakhmut, and in February 2023 fought in the battle of Vuhledar. ^[12]

In January 2023, the brigade's units fought in the battle of Vuhledar. ^[13]

Structure

As of 2022 the brigade's structure is as follows: ^[14]

• Headquarters
• 156th Territorial Defense Battalion ^[15] (Cherkasy) MUN  А7322 ^[1]
• 157th Territorial Defense Battalion (Zolotonosha) MUN  А7323 ^[1]
• 158th Territorial Defense Battalion (Smila) MUN  А7324 ^[1]
• 159th Territorial Defense Battalion (Zvenyhorodka) MUN  А7325 ^[1]
• 160th Territorial Defense Battalion (Uman) MUN  А7326 ^[1]
• 161th Territorial Defense Battalion (Zhashkiv) MUN  А7327 ^[1]
• 254th Territorial Defense Battalion ^[16] MUN  А4756
• Counter-Sabotage Company
• Engineering Company
• Communication Company
• Logistics Company
• Anti-Aircraft Platoon

Commanders

• Colonel Stuzhenko Anatolii: 2018–present

See also

• Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

References

1. Laws of Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada No. 44/2016: Про шефську допомогу військовим частинам Збройних Сил України, Національної гвардії України та Державної прикордонної служби України [On chief assistance to the military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Service of Ukraine]. Adopted on 18 February 2022. (Ukrainian)
2. "На Черкащині набирають резервістів до бригади територіальної оборони" [In Cherkasy region, reservists are being recruited for the territorial defense brigade]. uman-rda.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 9 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
3. "У Черкасах створили бригаду територіальної оборони" [A territorial defense brigade was created in Cherkasy]. provce.ck.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
4. "Приймаємо навіть жінок: на Черкащині з'явилася бригада територіальної оборони" [We even accept women: a territorial defense brigade has appeared in Cherkasy region]. zmi.ck.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
5. "Із наступного тижня на Черкащині стартують навчання з територіальної оборони" [Territorial defense exercises will start in Cherkasy from next week]. procherk.info (in Ukrainian). 2 August 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
6. "На Черкащині 118 окрема бригада ТрО провела вогневі тренування. Фото" [In Cherkaschyna 118, a separate brigade of the TrO conducted fire drills. Photo]. pivnich.org.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 August 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
7. "118-а окрема бригада ТрО навчається на Черкащині (ВІДЕО)" [The 118th separate brigade of TrO is training in Cherkasy region (VIDEO)]. ukrmilitary.com (in Ukrainian). 7 August 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
8. Shved, Oksana; Shevchenko, Daria (2 February 2022). "Приймають і військових, і цивільних: на Черкащині формують тероборону" [Both military and civilians are accepted: in Cherkasy region, they are forming a territorial defense unit]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
9. Shved, Oksana (2 March 2022). "Черкаська тероборона укомплектована, але можна записатися у резерв" [The Cherkasy Teroborona is fully equipped, but you can sign up for the reserve]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
10. "Командир черкаської тероборони має запитання по тому, як його бійців вводили в бій, але довіряє командуванню" [The commander of the Cherkasy Teroborona has questions about how his soldiers were brought into battle, but he trusts the command]. procherk.info (in Ukrainian). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
11. "У День захисників і захисниць України Президент вручив ордени «Золота Зірка», відзнаки «Хрест бойових заслуг» і присвоїв почесні найменування військовим частинам" [On the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the President presented the "Golden Star" orders, the "Cross of Combat Merits" and awarded military units with honorary titles]. Ministry of Defence (in Ukrainian). 14 October 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
12. "У боях поблизу Вугледара загинув черкаський телеоператор Павло Тимошенко" [Cherkasy TV cameraman Pavlo Tymoshenko was killed in the fighting near Vugledar]. zmina.info (in Ukrainian). 7 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
13. ""Знищували бійців "елітного" підрозділу": тероборонівець з Черкащини про бої біля Вугледару" ["They destroyed the fighters of the "elite" unit": a Teroborona soldier from Cherkasy region about the battles near Vuhledar]. provce.ck.ua (in Ukrainian). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
14. "118 ОБрТрО (118-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони)". wartears.org (in Ukrainian). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
15. "На Черкащині презентували кліп про тероборону, пісню писали в окопі на Луганщині" [In Cherkasy region, a video clip was presented about anti-terrorist defense, the song was written in a trench in Luhansk region]. Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 4 July 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
16. Nyshchyk, Yaroslav (18 May 2023). "Гарні пляжі, нові дороги – це нові могили хлопців та дівчат, – Ярослав Нищик" [Beautiful beaches, new roads are new graves for boys and girls, - Yaroslav Nyshchyk]. provce.ck.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 21 August 2023.