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Territorial Defense Forces (Ukraine)

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For the Ukrainian volunteer battalions formed in 2014, see Territorial defence battalions (Ukraine).
Territorial Defence Forces
Війська територіальної оборони (Ukrainian)
Founded2022
Country Ukraine
TypeMilitary reserve force
RoleLight infantry
Size37,000 active[1]
130,000 volunteers
Part ofArmed Forces of Ukraine
AnniversariesThe first Sunday of October[2]
EngagementsRusso-Ukrainian War
Commanders
Current
commander		General Yuriy Halushkin[3]
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Territorial Defence soldiers during the Battle of Kyiv, 25 February 2022

The Territorial Defence Forces (Ukrainian: Війська територіальної оборони, romanized: Viiska terytorialnoi oborony) are the military reserve component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Territorial Defence Forces were formed after the reorganization of the Territorial Defence Battalions, volunteer militias created during the War in Donbas under the command of the Ministry of Defence. Territorial Defence units existed from 2015 until 2021 in semi-organized forms until 2022 when they were formally organized into a unified defense corps under the Territorial Defence Forces.[4][5]

It is formed by a core of part-time reservists, usually former combat veterans, and in cases of war can be expanded to local civilian volunteers for local defense, in a case of mass mobilization.[6] That core is expected to lead the mobilized volunteers.[5]

The Territorial Defense Forces also contain the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, formed by foreign volunteers.[7]

History

In 2014 the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered a series of humiliating defeats, the Annexation of Crimea by Russia led to the takeover of the peninsula as most of the military either surrendered without resistance or defected to Russia.[8] While in the initial stages War in Donbas, the Ukrainian military had a number of setbacks and defeats against the pro-Russian separatist forces, as they were ill-prepared, ill-equipped, lacking in professionalism, morale, fighting spirit and with severe incompetence in the high command.[9] As the Donbas situation deteriorated, many civilians started to form volunteer militias and paramilitary groups to fight the separatists, known as the "Volunteer Battalions". The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine started to organize and mobilize some these units as the Territorial Defence Battalions.[10] The Territorial Defense Battalions and other Volunteer Battalions were credited to have held the line against separatist forces and allow the Ukrainian military to reorganize and mobilize.[11]

In late 2014 the system of territorial defense of Ukraine changed. Territorial defense battalions were reorganized and transferred to the mechanized infantry brigade of the Army. To replace them, a new structure of the territorial defense forces of the Armed Forces was gradually introduced.[4]

The example of Ukrainian Forces was later used by Poland to build its own armed forces, which from 2015 and on implemented a similar practice.

On 25 May 2021, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced a law to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) "on the basis of national resistance" that proposed to increase the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by 11,000 servicemen.[12] The old Territorial Defence units would be now organized under the new Territorial Defense Forces as a standalone branch of the Armed Forces. Veterans of the Donbas War from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine and other paramilitary forces invovled in the conflict would provide a backbone to train and lead the mobilized volunteers.[13] On 16 July 2021 parliament approved this bill, and on 29 July 2021 Zelensky signed the law.[12] On 1 January 2022, the Territorial Defence Forces were officially activated. The creation of the branch coincided with the Russian military build-up which had been ongoing since 2021.[14]

On 11 February 2022, the planned number of volunteers was increased to 1.5 to 2 million.[15]

As a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Territoral Defense Forces reserves were activated and several civilians joined local Territoral Defense Forces groups to fight the Russian invaders. On 25 February, during the rapid Russian offensive into Kyiv, the Ukrainian government distributed 18,000 guns for people wishing to fight in Kyiv.[16] For the next few days, the Territorial Forces were engaged in various combat situations and battles around Ukraine, supporting the Ukrainian Ground Forces and National Guard of Ukraine. By 6 March, almost 100,000 people had volunteered for the Territorial Defense Forces.[14][17] Some units stopped accepting volunteer as they reached their operational limit. There were reports of Ukrainian volunteers paying bribes or using connections to join the Territorial Defense.[18]

Armed Forces of Ukraine
Main branches
Law enforcement
Related services
Intelligence
History of the Ukrainian Military

On 27 February, as a result of many foreigners volunteering to fight for Ukraine, President Zelenskyy created the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, a foreign legion which was placed under the command of the Territorial Defense Forces.[7]

Tasks

  • Protection of public authorities, local governments, critical facilities and communications.
  • Deployment at checkpoints.
  • Combating sabotage and intelligence forces of the enemy, formed by anti-illegal armed formations and looters.
  • Maintaining safety and security on their respective territories (region, city).
  • Organization of resistance and (or) guerrilla groups - in case of territory being captured by the enemy.
  • Emergencies of natural and man-made disasters in peacetime.[citation needed]

Structure

Territorial Defence Brigade

  • Brigade administration (headquarters)
  • 4-8 infantry battalions
  • fire support company
  • counter-sabotage company
  • mortar battery
  • units of combat and logistics support

Territorial Rifle Battalion

  • battalion administration (headquarters)
  • 3 infantry company
  • fire support company
  • reconnaissance platoon
  • field communication unit
  • engineer platoon
  • material support platoon
  • technical control point
  • health center
  • club
  • Unit size: 492 persons
  • Weapons: ZU-23-2, 82 mm mortar 2B9 «Vasilek» RPG-7, AK, PM
  • Appliances: Automotive

Military Commissariat Defence Company

  • headquarters company
  • 4 protection platoons
  • Unit size: 121 people
  • Weapons: RPG-7, AK, PM
  • Appliances: Automotive

Defense Detachment

  • control unit
  • 9 infantry platoons
  • economic department
  • maintenance department of automotive engineering
  • health center
  • Unit size: 278 people
  • Weapons: RPG-7, AK, PM
  • Appliances: Automotive

Civil Defence (Teroborona)

Units

Territorial Defense Forces capture an abandoned Pantsir missile system.

Operational Command West

Operational Command North

  • 112th Territorial Defense Brigade (Kyiv)
  • 114th Territorial Defense Brigade (Kyiv oblast)
  • 115th Territorial Defense Brigade (Zhytomyr)
  • 116th Territorial Defense Brigade (Poltava)
  • 117th Territorial Defense Brigade (Sumy)
  • 118th Territorial Defense Brigade (Cherkasy)
  • 119th Territorial Defense Brigade (Chernihiv)

Operational Command East

Operational Command South

  • 120th Territorial Defense Brigade (Vinnytsia)
  • 121st Territorial Defense Brigade (Kropyvnytskyi)
  • 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade (Odessa)
  • 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade (Mykolaiv)
  • 124th Territorial Defense Brigade (Kherson)

Organisation

Territorial defense throughout Ukraine is organized by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or regional administrations in the relevant areas, within their powers. Direct supervision of state territorial defense is done by the head of the General Staff; the Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Because of their territorial defense tasks the Territorial Defense Forces are involved in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, including law enforcement bodies, units of the State Special Transport Service, State Special Communications Service of Ukraine and the relevant authorities.

Regional military commissariats form separate rifle battalions. District (city) military commissariats form defense units in an amount of 2 to 5 units, depending on the assigned tasks. Regional and district military commissariats have a staff defence company, involved in the task of territorial defense (TD).

All units are equipped reservists and military service obligatories. Preparation of the units of TD held within educational meeting of military service (with practical appeal) and the activities carried out between educational meeting.

See also

References

  1. ^ "НОВИНА 🇺🇦 | Новости Украины | війна з Росією | Новини Україна".
  2. ^ (in Ukrainian) Zelensky introduced another holiday on Teacher's Day, Ukrayinska Pravda (30 September 2020)
  3. ^ Zelensky appoints Halushkin Commander of territorial defense forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Interfax-Ukraine (1 January 2022)
  4. ^ a b Maryn, Sonia. "Ukraine's Territorial Defense volunteers prepare to support army in case of Russian invasion". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved March 31, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b "Ukraine's new military branch: Citizens protecting their neighborhood". POLITICO. 2022-02-13. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  6. ^ Ponomarenko, Illia (2022-01-07). "Who can and can't join Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  7. ^ a b Vohra, Anchal. "Ukraine's Foreign Legion Is Ready for Battle". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  8. ^ "Besieged Ukrainian soldiers DEFECT to Russia as Kiev prepares to pull 25,000 troops and their families out of Crimea - Georgia Newsday". 2015-09-09. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  9. ^ Akimenko, Valeriy. "Ukraine's Toughest Fight: The Challenge of Military Reform". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  10. ^ "Heroes or Villains? Volunteer Battalions in Post-Maidan Ukraine" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  11. ^ Collins, Liam. "In 2014, the 'decrepit' Ukrainian army hit the refresh button. Eight years later, it's paying off". The Conversation. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  12. ^ a b (in Ukrainian) The law on national resistance came into force, Ukrayinska Pravda (1 January 2022)
  13. ^ "Behind the lines of Kyiv's territorial defence force | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  14. ^ a b "Behind the lines of Kyiv's territorial defence force | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  15. ^ "Ukraine's new military branch: Citizens protecting their neighborhood". 13 February 2022.
  16. ^ "As it happened: Kyiv warned of toxic fumes after strike on oil depot". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  17. ^ "Ukraine's territorial defense has increased by 100,000 people since start of Russian invasion - National Guard". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  18. ^ Petrasiuk, Vadym (17 March 2022). "How I "bribed" my way into joining Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 24 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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