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 “Bars”, which participated against the Maidan protestors. The first weeks were described by volunteers as the worst days of their lives.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2023, the battalion carried out combat missions in the Bakhmut direction, the hottest direction at the time.
In March 2023, the battalion joined the Bureviy Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard and later joined the Khartia Brigade as part of the Offensive Guard program. Within these units, the battalion’s soldiers fought in the most intense sectors of the frontline.
In the beginning of 2025, the battalion underwent reorganization into a Special Purpose Battalion as part of the 27th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.
On April 1, 2026, the battalion became defunct and was reformed as the 4th Operational Battalion of the Lyubart Brigade.
Insignia
The unit’s insignia features a heraldic shield in green with a black border—symbols of struggle and rebirth. The central element is a stylized Trident (Tryzub) in the form of a lion, symbolizing the indomitable warriors fighting for the Trident. The inscription “Battalion named after General Kulchytskyi” signifies its affiliation with the National Guard of Ukraine and honors the memory of the hero.
