{"id":87799,"date":"2026-07-27T20:55:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=87799"},"modified":"2026-07-27T20:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:55:30","slug":"mykolaiv-territorial-defense-brigade-becomes-a-drone-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/news\/mykolaiv-territorial-defense-brigade-becomes-a-drone-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"Mykolaiv Territorial Defense Brigade Becomes a Drone Unit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/territorial-defense-forces\/123rd-territorial-defense-brigade\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"26908\">123rd Territorial Defense Brigade<\/a>, from Mykolaiv Oblast, has been reformed as an <strong>Unmanned Systems Brigade<\/strong>, continuing the reformation of the Territorial Defense Forces, which began in the Summer of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_6caecd-1c\">Reformation of the Brigade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the beginning of these reformations, four brigades have been reformed as Heavy Mechanized Brigades, namely the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/125th-heavy-mechanized-brigade\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"22315\">125th<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/127th-territorial-defense-brigade\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"26928\">127th<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/128th-heavy-mechanized-brigade\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"26916\">128th<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/129th-territorial-defense-brigade\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"18780\">129th Territorial Defense Brigades<\/a>, and this marks the first time a Territorial Defense brigade has been converted into a dedicated Unmanned Systems formation.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image87799_9ba9f1-b0 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image87799_9ba9f1-b0\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164-768x448.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-87820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164-768x448.png 768w, https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164-400x233.png 400w, https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164-1024x598.png 1024w, https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164-152x89.png 152w, https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot_164.png 1369w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption><em>Drone operator from the brigade&#8217;s 1st Unmanned Systems Battalion, June 25, 2026.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, reforms introduced since the summer have resulted in the disbandment and reintegration of all separate battalions under Territorial Defense Brigades into their parent brigades as linear units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These separate battalions had existed for a number of reasons. Among them was the fact that responsibility for raising, housing, and supporting them rested largely with local councils, which made it more practical to spread battalion-sized units across a number of locations than to accommodate an entire brigade in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-militaryland-net wp-block-embed-militaryland-net\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"iBt1TfUvwp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/article\/reformation-of-the-territorial-defense-forces\/\">\u0420\u0435\u0444\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0443\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0441\u0438\u043b \u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0456\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0457 \u043e\u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cReformation of the Territorial Defense Forces\u201d \u2014 MilitaryLand.net\" src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/article\/reformation-of-the-territorial-defense-forces\/embed\/#?secret=fl0Gr0D9PC#?secret=iBt1TfUvwp\" data-secret=\"iBt1TfUvwp\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_2e9100-b0\">New Path for the 123rd Brigade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The reformation of the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade was reported <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1049168351310516\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1049168351310516\">directly <\/a>by its social channels on July 16th, 2026, stating that they have become the <strong>123rd Unmanned Systems Brigade &#8220;Code Orion&#8221;<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The brigade&#8217;s official statement stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>The 123rd Separate Territorial Defence Brigade is embarking on a new chapter in its combat history. From now on, we become the 123rd Unmanned Systems Brigade &#8220;Code Orion&#8221;. We preserve the combat experience, traditions, memory and strength of the people who have walked this path alongside the brigade. At the same time, we are expanding our capabilities, mastering new technologies and preparing to operate with even greater precision, speed and efficiency.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The change is a result of former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi&#8217;s tenure &#8211; the expansion of the Territorial Defence Forces&#8217; drone capabilities to establish new drone units along the Belarusian border and strengthen unmanned systems across the branch, as <a href=\"https:\/\/united24media.com\/war-in-ukraine\/ukrainian-commander-in-chief-announces-new-drone-units-to-strengthen-northern-border-with-belarus-19863\">reported by United 24 Media<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading87799_96d106-c2\">Future Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As of now, the brigade remains within the structure of the Territorial Defense Forces. Its reformation nonetheless leaves Mykolaiv Oblast without a Territorial Defense unit of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, the brigade already has two Unmanned Systems Battalions, both formed on the basis of the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/territorial-defense-forces\/187th-territorial-defense-battalion\/\">187th<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/territorial-defense-forces\/188th-territorial-defense-battalion\/\">188th Territorial Defense Battalions<\/a>. The reformation of the brigade into a full Unmanned Systems Brigade likely also means the reformation of its three other line battalions, currently acting as infantry units, into Unmanned Systems Battalions, bringing it to a total of five battalions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The brigade&#8217;s growing emphasis on unmanned systems is already visible in the field, with it recently landing an unmanned ground robot on the Kinburn Spit armed with a machine gun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade, from Mykolaiv Oblast, has been reformed as an Unmanned Systems Brigade, continuing the reformation of the Territorial Defense Forces, which began in the Summer of&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3620,"featured_media":87823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[1142,1157],"class_list":["post-87799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-units","tag-army","tag-ukraine"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":3,"label":"News"},{"value":4,"label":"Units"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1142,"label":"Army"},{"value":1157,"label":"ukraine"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/h_123rd_Brigade_Reformed_Drones-1024x478.webp",1024,478,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"David Pipe","author_link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/author\/davomme\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":3,"name":"News","slug":"news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1081,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":3,"category_count":1081,"category_description":"","cat_name":"News","category_nicename":"news","category_parent":0},{"term_id":4,"name":"Units","slug":"units","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":403,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":4,"category_count":403,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Units","category_nicename":"units","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":1142,"name":"Army","slug":"army","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1142,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":304,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1157,"name":"ukraine","slug":"ukraine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1157,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":107,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3620"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87799"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87855,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87799\/revisions\/87855"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}