160th Mechanized Brigade Makes Official Debut on Social Media

The 160th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has officially deployed on social media platforms, launching Facebook and Instagram pages that mark the unit’s first digital engagement with the public.

In its inaugural Facebook post, the brigade disclosed details about its formation and the adoption of new unit insignia—a change MilitaryLand first reported in late October 2025.

The brigade was formed in the Yavoriv area of Lviv Oblast and the Shepetivka district of Khmelnytskyi Oblast, regions with deep historical roots in the medieval Kingdom of Rus. This territorial connection directly influenced the design of the unit’s heraldry.

The centerpiece of the brigade’s symbolism is the Cross of Saint George, a red straight cross on a silver field that served as the state and dynastic emblem of the Kingdom of Rus beginning in the early 14th century. The symbol is particularly associated with King Yuri I Lvovich (1301-1308), who adopted it as his personal and dynastic coat of arms.

The brigade’s sleeve insignia features a blue shield—traditional coloring for mechanized forces—with the Kingdom of Rus banner and Cross of Saint George at its center. According to the unit, the emblem represents “heredity, invincibility, and connection between generations of Ukrainian warriors.”

The 160th has adopted the Latin motto “FIDEM ET ARMA”—”By Faith and Weapons”—which the brigade interprets as loyalty to oath, brotherhood, and people, combined with readiness to defend the state under arms.

Command Changes

The brigade is now led by Colonel Valery Semenets, who replaced Colonel Vyacheslav Husinsky in late 2025. According to MilitaryLand research, Semenets served as Chief of Staff of the 57th Motorized Brigade in 2017. By 2020, he had moved to the General Staff, holding the position of Head of the Department of Doctrines and Training Troops. Most recently, from July to September 2025, he commanded the 110th Mechanized Brigade before taking the helm of the 160th.