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| 100th Mechanized Brigade | |
|---|---|
| 100 окрема механізована бригада 100 okrema mekhanizovana bryhada | |
 Shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 27 June 2018[1][2][3] – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Role |  Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | 2,000 (April 2024)[4] |
| Part of |  9th Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Lutsk,Volyn Oblast[5][6][7] |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official Facebook page |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | ColonelRuslan Tkachuk [uk] (2022 - present)[10] |
| Notable commanders | Colonel Kucher Oleksandr (2018 - 2020)[11] |
| Insignia | |
| Field insignia |  |
| Flag |  |
| Former flag |  |
The100th Mechanized Brigade (Ukrainian:100 окрема механізована бригада,romanized: 100 okrema mekhanizovana bryhada), formerly the100th Territorial Defense Brigade, is a formation of theUkrainian Ground Forces formed on 27 June 2018.[1][2] The brigade was a formerTerritorial Defense Brigade until being reformed in late March 2024 as aMechanized Brigade.[4]
In 2018, the brigade, known as the100th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Ukrainian:100-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони,romanized: 100-ta okrema bryhada teritorialʹnoï oboroni), was formed inVolyn Oblast in order to serve as a defense unit for the area.[5] According to the UkrainianTerritorial Defense Forces, it was an important part of the Defense Forces, and helped to defend the country's independence.[5]
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 Mechanized Brigade, being transferred to the Ground Forces component rather than the Territorial Defense Forces.[1] The brigade was only reformed on the basis of the existing units of the 100th Territorial Defense Brigade. Alongside this, the brigade received a newinsignia, shifting away from the Territorial Defense Forces styled insignia, opting for the middle of the insignia to have a shield embedded with afortified tower in the centre.
According to the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine, the insignia of the brigade reflected the pride and courage of the defenders ofVolyn. The sleeve insignia had the appearance of a red heraldic shield with a blue serrated head and decored with blue edging. The centre of the insignia was embdedded with a silver Latin cross on a red shield. It was mentioned that the red symbolises the bravery, courage and willingness to give one's life for "God and the Motherland", and white represents "purity and integrity".[5]
After the brigade was reformed into a mechanized brigade on 30 March 2024, the insignia of the brigade changed to have a fortified castle tower displayed in the centre of the insignia with a subdued green in the background—the tower being a direct reference to a tower ofLubart's Castle inLutsk,Volyn Oblast. The rest of the shield retained the silver Latin cross on a red shield and was accompanied by a black border.[12] Later the same day, the insignia was changed for the a second time to have a similar appearance, but instead the centre of the insignia had a light blue colour behind the fortified castle tower, followed by a strikingly different and more purple colour on the borders of the insignia; this variant would remain in use until 25 April 2024 where it would be changed to its current state.[13]
On 25 April 2024, the insignia of the brigade changed for a final time where the design of the Lubart Castle tower was made to be grey rather than a toned and subdued golden/yellow colour, along with the background colour of the tower being returned to the first design on 30 March 2024, being a subdued green. In addition to this, the interior shield in the middle of the insignia had its border colours returned to black, alongside the rest of the shield having a more subdued green border.[14] The insignia still retains the core areas of the insignia, such as the Latin silver cross.
In a report by Forbes in late April 2024, it was stated that the brigade is one of the newest and most lightly equipped in the entire Ukrainian Ground Forces.[1] The report also mentioned that the brigade was unsuitable for the frontline conditions that commanders required.[1][15] This came after the115th Mechanized Brigade were pulled away from Ocheretyne for its reported poor performance, with many including DeepStateMap.Live holding the 115th Mechanized Brigade accountable for the loss of the settlement.[16][17][18]
On 8 July 2024, it was reported in an article by David Axe that the 100th Mechanized Brigade had been equipped with German1A3 Marderinfantry fighting vehicles, reportedly giving the brigade its first major protected mobility and firepower. This became the first unit within the Ukrainian Ground Forces to receive 1A3 Marder vehicles.[19][20]
As of August 2024, the brigade operates the following vehicles:
The brigade, throughout its existence, has fought extensively throughout theRussian invasion of Ukraine which begun on 24 February 2022.[21]
In July 2022, the brigade was reportedly building fortifications on the northern border withBelarus in order to prevent a future Russian offensive that may have occurred towards Ukraine's northern border aroundKyiv, an area previously attacked by Russia between February and April 2022.[22][23]
On 28 July 2023, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskiy awarded "For Courage and Bravery" title to the brigade, and became the first Territorial Defense Brigade to receive the award.[24]
It was reported by various Ukrainian media outlets that the brigade has fought extensively in theBakhmut,Kupiansk, andLyman directions ineastern 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]
At the beginning of March 2023, it was reported that the Lutsk battalion, also being designated as the53rd Territorial Defense Battalion within the brigade, moved to the Bakhmut direction, a point in time where according toReuters - the battle for the city was grinding down Russia's best units.[26][1]
Ensuing Russia's offensive actions inAvdiivka 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.[27] The brigade was involved in thebattle 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.[28]
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 andOcheretyne. In a report byDeepStateMap.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 byThe Guardian that it was left "left in ruins" after being battered in fighting.[29]
The brigade was deployed toToretsk prior to August 2024, helping in the defence against theRussian offensive in the Toretsk direction. The brigade's VORON drone unit has been involved heavily in the defense of Toretsk, using attack drones to target Russian soldiers.[30]
On 18 August 2024,Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy recognised the efforts of the 100th Mechanized Brigade in the defense of Toretsk.[9][31]
It was reported on 20 August 2024 that the official Kremlin statement named that the 100th Mechanized Brigade, alongside other units such as the 25th Airborne Brigade and the 120th Territorial Defense Brigade had been "defeated" around settlements in Toretsk andNiu York.[32] According to a report byTASS, a state-ownedpro-Russiannews agency, Russia'sBattlegroup 'Center' claimed to have inflicted 585casualties on Ukrainian forces in a single day over the aforementioned Ukrainian units.[33]
In May 2025, the brigade suffered heavy losses during an unsuccessful attempt to counterattack in the city.[34]
As of 30 March 2024 the brigade's structure is as follows:
Aerial Reconnaissance and StrikeUAV Unit "Voron 100"