{"id":11919,"date":"2022-08-17T18:49:46","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T17:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?post_type=unit&p=11919"},"modified":"2026-04-01T13:48:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T11:48:07","slug":"kulchitskyi-battalion","status":"publish","type":"unit","link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/ukraine\/national-guard\/kulchitskyi-battalion\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0411\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d \u0456\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0456 \u041a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0447\u0438\u0446\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u0411\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d \u0456\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0456 \u041a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0447\u0438\u0446\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/strong> \u043f\u0456\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0456\u043b \u041d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0457 \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0456\u0457 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0438.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was formed on the basis of Maidan Self-Defense Volunteers as the 1st Reserve Battalion<\/strong> within the structure of the Ukrainian National Guard, which had just been restored following the Revolution of Dignity. Their training took place in the base of the Special Forces Unit \u201cBars\u201d, which participated against the Maidan protestors. The first weeks were described by volunteers as the worst days of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite limited resources and many soldiers lacking basic protective gear, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, and heavier equipment, including anti-tank weapons like RPGs, they were successful in completing many combat tasks. They were praised by regular soldiers from other units of the Ukrainian Military for their achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the command of Major General Serhii Kulchytskyi, the battalion’s personnel were among the first to deploy to eastern Ukraine, blocking enemy forces in the Slovyansk area, with its reconnaissance groups restoring the Ukrainian flag over the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commander, Kulchytskyi, was tragically killed on May 29, 2014, in Slovyansk after the Mi-8 helicopter he was being transported in, was shot down by self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatists near Mount Karachun. In his honor, the battalion was named after him to keep his memory alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unit’s soldiers also fought through intense battles in the Debaltseve direction, ensuring the withdrawal of Ukrainian Forces, and holding positions in the areas of Stanytsia, Luhanska, and Popasna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the unit participated in the defense of Kyiv Oblast. After the clearing of the region and the Kyiv Campaign crawling to an end, the unit was redeployed to eastern Ukraine, participating in counteroffensive operations in late 2022, together with units of the Air Assault Forces, liberating Lyman, Sviatohirsk, and Yarova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, the battalion carried out combat missions in the Bakhmut direction, the hottest direction at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2023, the battalion joined the \u0411\u0443\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0456\u0439 \u0431\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/a> of the Ukrainian National Guard\u00a0and later joined the\u00a0\u0425\u0430\u0440\u0442\u0456\u044f \u0411\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/a><\/span> \u0432 \u0440\u0430\u043c\u043a\u0430\u0445 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0435\u043a\u0442\u0443 \u041d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0443\u043f\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430 \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0456\u044f<\/a> program. Within these units, the battalion’s soldiers fought in the most intense sectors of the frontline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning of 2025, the battalion underwent reorganization into a Special Purpose Battalion as part of the 27-\u0430 \u0431\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/a> \u041d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0457 \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0456\u0457 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0438.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 1, 2026, the battalion became defunct and was reformed as the 4th Operational Battalion of the \u041b\u044e\u0431\u0430\u0440\u0442 \u0411\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0412\u0456\u0434\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043a\u0438<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0415\u043c\u0431\u043b\u0435\u043c\u0430 \u043f\u0456\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0456\u043b\u0443 - \u0433\u0435\u0440\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0434\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0449\u0438\u0442 \u0437\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043a\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043e\u0440\u0443 \u0437 \u0447\u043e\u0440\u043d\u043e\u044e \u043e\u0431\u043b\u044f\u043c\u0456\u0432\u043a\u043e\u044e - \u0441\u0438\u043c\u0432\u043e\u043b \u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u044c\u0431\u0438 \u0442\u0430 \u0432\u0456\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f. \u0426\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u043c \u0435\u043b\u0435\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u043e\u043c \u0454 \u0441\u0442\u0438\u043b\u0456\u0437\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0422\u0440\u0438\u0437\u0443\u0431 \u0443 \u0432\u0438\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0456 \u043b\u0435\u0432\u0430, \u0449\u043e \u0441\u0438\u043c\u0432\u043e\u043b\u0456\u0437\u0443\u0454 \u043d\u0435\u0437\u043b\u0430\u043c\u043d\u0438\u0445 \u0432\u043e\u0457\u043d\u0456\u0432, \u044f\u043a\u0456 \u0431\u043e\u0440\u044e\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0437\u0430 \u0422\u0440\u0438\u0437\u0443\u0431. \u041d\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0441 \u201c\u0411\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d \u0456\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0456 \u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u041a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0447\u0438\u0446\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e\u201d<\/strong> \u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0430\u0454 \u0439\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0430\u043b\u0435\u0436\u043d\u0456\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0434\u043e \u041d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0457 \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0456\u0457 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0438 \u0442\u0430 \u0432\u0448\u0430\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0443\u0454 \u043f\u0430\u043c'\u044f\u0442\u044c \u0433\u0435\u0440\u043e\u044f.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kulchitskyi Battalion is a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard. It was formed on the basis of Maidan Self-Defense Volunteers as the 1st Reserve Battalion within the structure of the Ukrainian National Guard, which had just been restored following the Revolution of Dignity. Their training took place in the base of the Special Forces Unit…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":11765,"menu_order":0,"template":"","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":""},"unit_tag":[],"class_list":["post-11919","unit","type-unit","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Jerome Rendall","author_link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/author\/ml_admin\/"},"comment_info":"","related_losses":false,"related_posts":[{"ID":49991,"post_title":"The reorganization of Kulchitskyi Battalion","post_content":"\n

The first volunteer unit of the National Guard, the battalion named in honor of Hero of Ukraine Major General Serhiy Kulchitskyi, is currently undergoing reorganization. In March 2025, the battalion was withdrawn from the frontline, marking the beginning of its reformation process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Complete Reform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The operational assignment battalion is being restructured into a special purpose unit, with a primary focus on assault operations while also aiming to train universally capable infantrymen. The new formation will include three assault companies, a sniper unit, and various support elements, including a dedicated drone team. Leadership positions at the company and platoon levels are currently being filled from among the unit\u2019s experienced soldiers. Additionally, a team of instructors is being assembled from the battalion's veterans to train incoming recruits. To support this transformation, a recruitment campaign has been launched to attract patriotic citizens ready to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kulchitskyi Battalion insignia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The National Guard headquarters has equipped the battalion with a sufficient number of AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, marking a transition away from Soviet-era weaponry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the battalion has been reassigned from the Bureviy Brigade<\/a> to the 27th Pechersk Brigade<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Commander<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In March 2025, Oleksii Zubach was appointed as the commander of the battalion. He began his service in 2006 with the Bars Special Forces unit (now Bureviy Brigade<\/a>), where he served as a reconnaissance officer. Since 2014, he has been actively involved in the defense of Ukraine.<\/p>\n","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"1","post_date":"2025-05-20 21:48:46","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-20 19:48:46","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-reorganization-of-kulchitskyi-battalion","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-08-09 22:38:13","post_modified_gmt":"2025-08-09 20:38:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=49991","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["49994","1","2025-05-20 20:52:27","2025-05-20 18:52:27","","news_kulchbat","","inherit","open","closed","","news_kulchbat","","","2025-05-20 20:52:27","2025-05-20 18:52:27","","49991","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/news_kulchbat.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","49994"],"category":[{"term_id":"3","name":"\u041d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438","slug":"news","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"3","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"1053","object_id":"82596","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"3"},{"term_id":"4","name":"\u041e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0456","slug":"units","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"4","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"381","object_id":"82264","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"4"}],"post_tag":false,"post_format":false,"id":49991},{"ID":81073,"post_title":"Kulchitskyi Battalion Transfers to Lyubart","post_content":"\n

Amid ongoing reforms to strengthen combat effectiveness and its combat corps, the Ukrainian National Guard continues to reshape its forces, expanding proven units, scaling units to support its corps, or integrating volunteer units into the combat structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Integration of the Battalion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On April 1, 2026, the Lyubart Brigade<\/a> announced across all its active social channels the integration of the legendary Kulchitskyi Battalion<\/a> into the ranks of the brigade, being reformed into its 4th Operational Battalion<\/strong>. In October 2025, MilitaryLand <\/em>also reported on the integration of the Nakhtihal Battalion<\/a> into the ranks of the brigade, becoming its dedicated Unmanned Systems Battalion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than pursuing endless expansion or unnecessary reorganization, the branch has focused solely on effectively integrating existing and combat capable units into its combat structure, consolidating manpower where it is most needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This approach strengthens the various brigades within both the 1st Azov Corps<\/a> and 2nd Khartia Corps<\/a>, filling critical gaps, particularly in formations like the Lyubart Brigade, which has required additional personnel following its expansion around a year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, as part of its integration into the brigade, the Kulchitskyi Battalion has been issued a new insignia, reflecting the identity of the Lyubart Brigade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Insignia of the 4th Operational Battalion \"Kulchitskyi\" of the Lyubart Brigade, redrawn for MilitaryLand.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The insignia continues the identity of the Kulchitskyi Battalion's insignia, with the exception that the main imagery is contained within a stylized chevron in theme with the brigade and the 1st Azov Corps. The central symbolism depicts a stylized Tryzub in the form of a lion, symbolizing indomitable warriors fighting for the Trident, representing Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combat Path of Kulchitskyi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On March 14, 2014, approximately 500 volunteers from the Maidan Self-Defense units signed up to become reservists in the National Guard of Ukraine. Their combat training and coordination were led by Major General Serhiy Kulchytsky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2014, 300 of these reservists took the oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, forming the 1st Reserve Battalion before deploying to eastern Ukraine. The following month, another 270 volunteers completed their training, forming the 2nd Reserve Battalion. They departed for eastern Ukraine on the same day a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter carrying Major General Serhiy Kulchytsky was shot down near Slovyansk. He became the first Ukrainian general killed during the War in Donbas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July 2014, the two reserve battalions were merged into a single operational unit, which was named in honor of Hero of Ukraine Major General Serhiy Kulchytsky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kulchytskyi Battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard receiving its personalized battle flag, December 2016.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Following the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, the battalion took part in the defense of Kyiv Oblast before redeploying to the east. It contributed to the liberation of Lyman, Sviatohirsk, and Yarova, and later fought in the Bakhmut direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2023, the battalion joined the Bureviy Brigade, and was later incorporated into the Khartia Brigade. In March 2025, the unit was transferred to the 27th Brigade and withdrawn from the frontline for reorganization into a specialized unit focused on assault operations.<\/p>\n","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"3620","post_date":"2026-04-02 21:37:25","post_date_gmt":"2026-04-02 19:37:25","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"kulchitskyi-battalion-transfers-to-lyubart","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-04-02 21:37:25","post_modified_gmt":"2026-04-02 19:37:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=81073","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","comments":[{"comment_ID":"15865","comment_post_ID":"81073","comment_author":"Patrick","comment_author_email":"patrickrobert1389@aol.com","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"86.203.141.34","comment_date":"2026-04-02 22:28:18","comment_date_gmt":"2026-04-02 20:28:18","comment_content":"Good day - in March, Russian forces made net gains of 160 km\u00b2","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/146.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"0","user_id":"0","pod_item_id":"15865"}],"_thumbnail_id":["81105","3620","2026-04-01 13:48:32","2026-04-01 11:48:32","","h_Kulchitskyi_Joins_Lyubart","Kulchitskyi Battalion","inherit","open","closed","","h_kulchitskyi_joins_lyubart","","","2026-04-01 17:19:41","2026-04-01 15:19:41","","81073","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/h_Kulchitskyi_Joins_Lyubart.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","81105"],"category":[{"term_id":"3","name":"\u041d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438","slug":"news","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"3","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"1053","object_id":"82596","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"3"},{"term_id":"4","name":"\u041e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0456","slug":"units","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"4","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"381","object_id":"82264","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"4"}],"post_tag":[{"term_id":"1147","name":"\u0410\u0437\u043e\u0432","slug":"azov","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1147","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"10","object_id":"81632","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1147"},{"term_id":"1158","name":"\u041a\u043e\u0440\u043f\u0443\u0441\u0438","slug":"corps","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1158","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"23","object_id":"81697","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1158"},{"term_id":"1149","name":"\u041c\u0456\u043d\u0456\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e \u0432\u043d\u0443\u0442\u0440\u0456\u0448\u043d\u0456\u0445 \u0441\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432","slug":"ministry-of-internal-affairs","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1149","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"15","object_id":"81632","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1149"},{"term_id":"1148","name":"\u043d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430 \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0456\u044f","slug":"national-guard","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1148","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"18","object_id":"81632","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1148"},{"term_id":"1152","name":"\u041d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0439 \u043f\u0456\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0456\u043b","slug":"new-unit","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1152","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"21","object_id":"81480","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1152"},{"term_id":"1157","name":"\u0443\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0430","slug":"ukraine","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1157","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"98","object_id":"81971","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1157"}],"post_format":false,"id":81073}],"unit_equipment_previous":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/11919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/unit"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/11919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81100,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/11919\/revisions\/81100"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/11765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"unit_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit_tag?post=11919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}