125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade

125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
(2025–present)
125th Territorial Defense Brigade
(2022–2025)
Ukrainian: 125-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони
ActiveMarch 22, 2022 – present
Country Ukraine
Branch Armed Forces of Ukraine
Role Mechanized Infantry
Size1,500–10,000
Part ofOperational Command West
3rd Army Corps[1][2]
Garrison/HQLviv, Lviv Oblast
MottoViribus Unitis
Websitehttps://www.125tro.lviv.ua/
Commanders
Current
commander		Col. Vadim Bondarenko[3]
Major Volodymyr Fokin[4]
Insignia
Flag
Logo (2025 – January 2026)
Flag (until January 2026)

The 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade (Ukrainian: 125-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони) is a military formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in Lviv. It is part of Operational Command West.[5]

History

Formation

On 27 February 2022 the brigade was formed in Lviv.[6] In early March, the brigade was actively recruiting reservists and was in organizational process. Its purpose was protection of Lviv,[7] its strategic facilities, protection of government facilities and counter-sabotage.[8] The brigade was fully formed on 12 March. Lieutenant General Artur Horbenko was assigned to command it.[9]

Russo-Ukrainian War

Russian invasion of Ukraine

As of 13 August, the brigade had lost 9 soldiers.[10] Units of the brigade along with other formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated following villages and settlements in Donetsk Oblast: Ozerne, Dibrova, Yampil and Torske.

In November 2022, units of the brigade's 217th Battalion were taking part in combat in Donetsk Oblast.[11]

On 4 December, the brigade received its battle flag.[12] As of December 2022, units of the brigade were deployed to Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast and Donetsk Oblast.[12]

Units of the 125th Brigade, including of its 218th Battalion, held positions in Bakhmut between January and March 2023.[11][13]

In 2024, the brigade was transferred to the Ground Forces of Ukraine, and in July 2025, the unit was reformed as heavy mechanized brigade.[14][15]

Structure

From 2022 to 2025 the brigade's structure is as follows:[16]

  • Headquarters
  • 215th Territorial Defense Battalion MUN  А7390
  • 216th Territorial Defense Battalion MUN  А7391
  • 217th Territorial Defense Battalion MUN  А7392
  • 218th Territorial Defense Battalion MUN  А7393
  • 219th Territorial Defense Battalion MUN  А7394
  • Counter-Sabotage Company
  • Engineering Company
  • Communication Company
  • Logistics Company
  • Mortar Battery

From 2025 the brigade's structure is as follows[17]

  • 1st Mechanized Battalion
  • 2nd Mechanized Battalion
  • Unmanned Systems Battalion "Primus"
  • Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
  • Maintenance Battalion "Tur"
  • Electronic Warfare Company
  • Medical Company
  • Support Center

Commanders

  • Lt. Gen. Artur Horbenko 2022[18] – 2024[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/11138
  2. ^ https://militaryland.net/news/all-heavy-mechanized-brigades-assigned-to-army-corps/#:~:text=According%20to%20several%20volunteers%20closely,into%20a%20heavy%20mechanized%20formation.&text=The%20129th%20Heavy%20Mechanized%20Brigade,MilitaryLand%20on%20August%201%2C%202025.
  3. ^ https://voennoedelo.com/en/posts/id3391-lost-contact-with-125th-ukrainian-brigade-near-gulyaypole
  4. ^ https://militaryland.net/news/fokin-becomes-the-new-commander-of-125th-heavy-brigade/
  5. ^ "Ukraine's Military Transitioning to Corps-Based Command Structure - Jamestown". jamestown.org. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  6. ^ Kotenskyi, Andrii (27 February 2022). "У Львові створили 125-у окрему бригаду сил територіальної оборони" [The 125th separate brigade of territorial defense forces was created in Lviv]. portal.lviv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ^ "У Львові формують 125-ту бригаду тероборони: куди звертатись" [The 125th Terrodefense Brigade is being formed in Lviv: where to signup]. city-adm.lviv.ua (in Ukrainian). 4 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  8. ^ Savitska, Viktoria (11 March 2022). "Оборона Львова і області. Які збройні формування працюють та як долучитися" [Defense of Lviv and the region. What armed formations work and how to join]. tvoemisto.tv (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. ^ Savitska, Viktoria (12 March 2022). "У Львові організувалися пів сотні добровольчих об'єднань для захисту міста" [Half a hundred volunteer associations were organized in Lviv to protect the city]. tvoemisto.tv (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. ^ Kotenskyi, Andrii (13 August 2022). "У Львові на благодійному аукціоні зібрали понад два млн грн для ЗСУ" [In Lviv, more than two million UAH were collected for the Armed Forces at a charity auction]. portal.lviv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b Руденко, Марія; Титаренко, Віта; Волков, Ігор. "Воєнно-історичний календар сил територіальної оборони збройних сил України на 2024 рік (січень-червень)" (PDF). Сили територіальної оборони ЗСУ (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b "125-та окрема бригада територіальної оборони Збройних сил України отримала Бойовий Прапор" [The 125th separate territorial defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received the Battle Flag]. lvivoblrada.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 5 December 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  13. ^ ""Москальська нечисть полює за евакуаційним транспортом": як працюють військові медики на околицях Бахмута" ["Moscow evil hunts for evacuation transport": how military medics work on the outskirts of Bakhmut]. vchasnoua.com (in Ukrainian). 20 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Chaos on front lines: Story of Ukraine's 125th Brigade and dozens gone missing on Zaporizhzhia front". hromadske. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  15. ^ "125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade". MilitaryLand.net. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  16. ^ "125 окрема важка механізована бригада". 125 окрема важка механізована бригада (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  17. ^ "125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade". MilitaryLand.net. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  18. ^ "UPDATED Ukraine Media Center's April 4, 2022, Briefing Schedule (32 Rynok Sq., Lviv)". mediacenter.org.ua. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Екскомбриг 125-ої ТРО Горбенко: На Харківщині робили все можливе. Але втримати фронт, коли в тебе 6–8 людей на кілометр – нереально". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 17 August 2025.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/125th_Territorial_Defense_Brigade_(Ukraine)