Reformation of the Territorial Defense Forces

The Territorial Defense Forces are undergoing a comprehensive restructuring. Separate battalions are being reorganized into linear battalions, streamlining the force and eliminating redundant management and command elements.

When Territorial Defense Brigades were first established—some as early as 2018—they consisted of separate battalions, unlike the regular brigades of the Ground Forces. This design reflected their original role as a reserve force focused on defending local communities. Each major city raised its own territorial defense battalion, complete with its own base, command staff, and rear support. Brigades served primarily as regional oversight, with one Territorial Defense Brigade assigned to each Ukrainian region.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, some regions created a second brigade to meet increased manpower demands. Parliament later passed legislation allowing Territorial Defense brigades and their battalions to deploy outside their home regions.

Because separate battalions were designed to operate independently, they were frequently attached to regular Ground Forces brigades and rarely deployed to the front as a complete Territorial Defense Brigade.

Changes for better

The linearization of Territorial Defense Brigades is intended to simplify their structure and management by removing unnecessary elements. Support units will now be organized at the brigade level, while those at the battalion level will be disbanded. All battalions will be relocated to their brigade’s main base. This process will enable the Defense Forces to create full-fledged brigades capable of deploying as cohesive units with a clear hierarchy.

The change is significant, as dozens of Territorial Defense Brigades exist, and properly reforming every battalion will take time. Below, we provide a list of all known separate units that have been reformed into linear formations.

List of Units

• 56th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 104th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 57th Battalion -> 2nd Battalion of 104th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 59th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 104th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 60th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 104th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 61st Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 104th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 72nd Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 101st Territorial Defense Brigade
• 73rd Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 101st Territorial Defense Brigade
• 83rd Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 105th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 85th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 105th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 94th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 107th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 103rd Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 108th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 107th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 109th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 114th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 110th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 120th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 113th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 121st Battalion -> 2nd Battalion of 113th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 124th Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 113th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 125th Battalion -> 6th Battalion of 113th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 126th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 112th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 129th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 112th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 130th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 241st Territorial Defense Brigade
• 134th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 114th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 135th Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 114th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 136th Battalion -> 6th Battalion of 114th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 137th Battalion -> 7th Battalion of 114th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 140th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 115th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 141st Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 115th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 143rd Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 115th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 148th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 116th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 150th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 117th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 153rd Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 117th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 157th Battalion -> 2nd Battalion of 118th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 159th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 118th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 166th Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 119th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 172nd Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 120th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 174th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 121st Territorial Defense Brigade
• 176th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 121st Territorial Defense Brigade
• 181st Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 182nd Battalion -> 2nd Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 183rd Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 184th Battalion -> 4th Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 185th Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 187th Battalion -> 2nd Battalion of 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 203rd Battalion -> 6th Battalion of 108th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 205th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 241st Territorial Defense Brigade
• 211th Battalion -> 6th Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 242nd Battalion of 241st Territorial Defense Brigade -> 5th Battalion of 117th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 244th Battalion -> 5th Battalion of 112th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 250th Battalion -> 1st Battalion of 114th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 252nd Battalion -> 6th Battalion of 117th Territorial Defense Brigade
• 255th Battalion of 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade -> 7th Battalion of 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade
• 517th Battalion -> 3rd Battalion of 1st Territorial Defense Brigade

Please allow us a few days to update all the information on our site. As you can see, the list is extensive, and several units are still undergoing reorganization.

Sources: LobbyX, official Facebook pages of selected units