128th Heavy Mechanized Brigade

128th Territorial Defense Brigade
Ukrainian: 128-ма окрема бригада територіальної оборони "Дике поле"
Active26 February 2022 – present
CountryUkraine
Branch Armed Forces of Ukraine
RoleMechanized Infantry
Part ofOperational Command East
Garrison/HQDniproMUN А7384[1]
EngagementsRusso-Ukrainian war
Insignia
Flag

The 128th Heavy Mechanized Brigade "Wild Field" (Ukrainian: 128-ма окрема бригада територіальної оборони «Дике поле») is a military formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in Dnipro. It is part of Operational Command East.

History

Formation

On 16 February 2022 Chief of Staff for Regional Territorial Defense Command of Operational Command East Yevhen Shcherban announced that a second brigade dedicated to defense of Dnipro will be created.[2] Command of the unit was offered to Colonel Oleksandr Vodolazskyi on the 25th. Next day, 26 February the brigade was formed and began recruiting.[3] 700 Soldiers signed up on the first day from over 3,000 who showed up.[4]

Russo-Ukrainian War

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Soldiers from 231st Defense Battalion shot down a Mi-35M on 6 June in Donetsk Oblast.[5] By August battalions of the brigade were dispersed in various parts of the front.[6]

On 8 September 2022, the brigade's 233rd Battalion took control of the village of Vovchyi Yar in the Kharkiv Oblast as part of a major Ukrainian operation there.[7] Two days later, the 233rd took part in the capture of the Kharkiv Oblast villages of Bohodarivka and Semenivka.[7]

On 14 October, the brigade received its battle flag.[8]

Brigade commander Colonel Oleksandr Vodolazskyi received orders to retire due to his age on 22 February 2023.[9] Colonel Rostyslav Rehinskyi became a new commander on 27 February 2023.[10]

On 3 March President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the brigade was fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[11] In July, the brigade was fighting in Donetsk Oblast.[3]

On 5 December 2024, the brigade was awarded the honorary name "Wild Field" by decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[12]

In 2024, the brigade was transferred to the Ground Forces of Ukraine, and in July 2025 reformed into a heavy mechanized brigade.[13][14]

Structure

As of 2022 the brigade's structure is as follows:

  • Headquarters
  • 230th Territorial Defense Battalion[15]MUN А7405
  • 231st Territorial Defense Battalion MUN А7406[16]
  • 232nd Territorial Defense Battalion[17]MUN А7407
  • 233rd Territorial Defense Battalion[18]MUN А7408
  • 234th Territorial Defense Battalion MUN А7409[19]
  • Engineering Company
  • Communication Company
  • Logistics Company
  • Mortar Battery

Commanders

  • Colonel Oleksandr Vodolazskyi 26 February 2022 – 27 February 2023[10]
  • Colonel Rostyslav Rehinskyi 27 February 2023[10] – present

See also

References

  1. ^Nikitin, Andrii (22 November 2022). "У Дніпрі судять військового, який вилучив майно на потреби ЗСУ" [A military man who seized property for the needs of the Armed Forces is on trial in Dnipro]. dnepr.express (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  2. ^Husak, Oleh (16 February 2022). "Місто Дніпро захищатиме окрема бригада територіальної оборони" [The city of Dnipro will be protected by a separate territorial defense brigade]. dnipro.depo.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ abHaniukov, Olha (8 July 2023). "Закрив собою групу побратимів: на фронті загинув воїн 128-ї бригади ТрО "Гагарін". Фото" [Covered a group of his comrades: a soldier of the 128th brigade of the "Gagarin" troop died at the front. Photo]. war.obozrevatel.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  4. ^Chueva, Alyona (17 March 2023). "Завжди на зв'язку!" [Always connected!]. Facebook (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  5. ^Zviahin, Daria (16 June 2022). "Бойцы днепровской теробороны сбили вражеский вертолет: видео" [Soldiers of the Dnieper territorial defense shot down an enemy helicopter: video]. dnepr.express (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. ^Plachynda, Anhelina (22 August 2022). "Дніпровську ТрО без забезпечення розкидали по різних ділянках фронту" [The Dnipro TrO was scattered across different sections of the front without support]. dnepr.express (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. ^ abРуденко, Марія; Титаренко, Віта; Волков, Ігор. "Воєнно-історичний календар сил територіальної оборони збройних сил України на 2024 рік (липень-грудень)"(PDF). Сили територіальної оборони ЗСУ (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  8. ^"102 бригада тероборони Івано-Франківщини отримала Бойовий прапор" [The 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region received the Battle Flag]. vikna.if.ua (in Ukrainian). 18 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. ^Vodolazskyi, Oleksandr (22 February 2023). "Прийшов наказ на звільнення за віком у відставку" [An order for retirement due to age has arrived.]. Facebook (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  10. ^ abcAndrusenko-Yakotiuk, Daria (27 February 2023). "Я чекаю змін і боюсь їх водночас" [I look forward to change and fear it at the same time]. Facebook (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  11. ^"Гідна відсіч загарбникам є передумовою успіху оборонних операцій - Зеленський" [A decent rebuff to invaders is a prerequisite for the success of defensive operations - Zelenskyy]. Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. ^УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №829/2024
  13. ^"128th Heavy Mechanized Brigade". MilitaryLand.net. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  14. ^"128th Territorial Defense Brigade Reforms". MilitaryLand.net. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  15. ^Plachynda, Anhelina (28 July 2022). "У Дніпрі боєць ТрО втік зі служби та опинився на лаві підсудних" [In Dnipro, a TrO fighter ran away from service and ended up on the dock]. dnepr.express (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  16. ^"Equipment for technical maintenance of vehicles for military unit A7406 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". tviykrok.com.ua. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  17. ^Zviahin, Daria (17 June 2022). "Бойцы днепровской теробороны затрофеили вражескую технику: видео" [Soldiers of the Dnieper Territorial defense Captured Enemy Equipment: Video]. dnepr.express (in Russian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  18. ^"ЗСУ знищили російську бронегрупу" [The Armed Forces destroyed the Russian armored group]. antikor.com.ua (in Ukrainian). 19 April 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  19. ^Zviahin, Daria (29 August 2022). "Кинув без ліків та води: бійці дніпровської ТрО вимагають судити командира" [Left us without medicine and water: fighters of the Dnipro TrO demand the trial of the commander]. dnepr.express (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=128th_Heavy_Mechanized_Brigade&oldid=1310914428"