126th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces | |
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Ukrainian: 126-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони | |
Active | 23 March 2022 - present |
Country | Ukraine |
Branch | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
Type | Military reserve force |
Role | Light infantry |
Part of | Territorial Defense Forces |
Garrison/HQ | Odesa MUN А7382 |
The 126th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Ukrainian: 126-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони) is a military formation of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine in Odesa. It is part of Operational Command South.
Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration Maksym Marchenko announced that a new Territorial Defense brigade will be formed in Odesa on 5 March 2022.[1] On 8 March the brigade was formed in Odesa.[2] Next day Brigade began accepting reservists.[3] 23 March is the official date of creation of the Brigade.[4] On May 12 the Brigade had already trained additional two thousand troops for the Territorial Defense.[5]
Colonel Larysa Yakobchuk was appointed as a deputy commander for moral and psychological support. She is the first female deputy commander in the Territorial Defense Forces.[6][7]
While digging trenches near Odesa in May, units of the Brigade unearthed amphorae, estimated to be from the fourth or fifth centuries BC. All findings were given to the Odesa Archaeological Museum.[8]
The "Chimera" unit is a small close-knit formation made up of soldiers with previous combat experience. They fought near Mykolaiv when the enemy was close. The unit was involved in the liberation of the right bank of Kherson region.[9] The brigade also had two company tactical groups, "Hunter" and "Oscar", helping liberate Kherson oblast.[10]
On 4 December, the brigade received its battle flag.[10]
As of 2022 the brigade's structure is as follows: