"Ukrainian Territorial Defense Brigade Equipment" Topic

The Kharkiv Territorial Defense Brigade practiced firing a 57-mm S-60 gun mounted on a truck, dated 12 May 2022.

The Territorial Defense Brigades don't appear to have any artillery, instead they have "fire support companies" (separate to the mortar battery). Would these be equipped with 57-mm S-60?

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The government of Ukraine allowed the country's territorial defense forces to use artillery and rockets, and also formalized the authority to use any small arms and ammunition. The corresponding order was signed by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

The amendments to the government decree on the activities of the territorial defense forces of December 29, 2021, published by the government of Ukraine on April 5, state that members of the territorial defense units can use "small arms – firearms, pneumatic barreled weapons for firing balls or other types of cartridges." Previously, the document provided for the use of hunting weapons.

The government also allowed them to use "other types of weapons: artillery weapons, missile systems (complexes), guided (unguided) missiles and their components, complexes (installations) for their launch and components for them, weapons (fire) control systems, systems remote control of missiles, equipment for the transportation and maintenance of missiles, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, mines, grenades.

"This decree comes into force from the date of publication [April 5] and applies from February 24, 2022," Shmyhal's order says.

Thus, the authorities documented the actual practice of using various types of weapons by the territorial defense forces after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.

I think that the territorial defense units are supplied with heavy weapons according to the residual principle. They are given outdated, captured (not suitable for arming line units for some reason) or foreign samples of heavy weapons from the arsenals. But these are just my guesses.

By the way, these guntrucks have already become a trophy of the Russian army.

link

March 13, 2016 Training of the Kharkiv Territorial Defense Brigade included piloting unmanned aerial vehicles

January 25, 2022 Brovary Battalion of Kyiv 114th Territorial Defense Brigade taught to use Degtyarev DP-27 machine gun
The DP machine gun (Degtyareva, infantry) was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1927 and became one of the first models created from scratch.

13 February, 2022 Trainers for Territorial defence battalions will be taught to use Stugna-P and Corsar ATGMs

18 May, 2022 Soldiers of the Territorial Defense Brigade of Zaporizhzhia started mastering the FN MAG M240 machine gun
The M240 was adopted by the U.S. military in 1977, and several modifications were developed over the years.

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Cuprum2,

This is from The Cabinet has expanded the list of weapons that can be used by territorial defense

This is not about Territorial Defense Brigades, it is about groups of volunteers of territorial communities of at least 5.

The image doesn't show unless I open it in a new tab. Thanks for the image and the link.

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There is a vid of the Kharkiv Territorial Defense Brigade practice firing a 57-mm S-60 gun mounted on a truck. The ammunition is recent, produced by the Slovak company MSM Group. An M1910/30 Maxim MG is also used.

2 images of the captured guns noted by Cuprum2.

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57 mm S-60 gun is a dedicated anti-aircraft gun that entered Soviet service in the 1950's. It is quite heavy (apparently over 4 500 kg with the carriage), though there was also a self-propelled, tracked and twin-barreled version ZSU-57-2 developed.

Sticking one to the back of an unarmoured truck certainly helps with mobility, though that tends to make for a rather vulnerable target.

Considering that the Territorial Defense Brigades are relatively newly formed, and perhaps not top priority for equipment, there might be some variation in heavy weapons from brigade to brigade, depending on what happened to be available locally.

Interesting … as I have said before. A weapon system is only as good as the crew/trooper behind it.

And yes, I'm sure there are a lot of "ad hoc" weapons in many of these Territorial units. Even some may be in standard Ukrainian and even Russia units. You see a variety of Russian AFVs in the photos, etc. of the war. E.g. MTLBs, BTRs, BMPs, many type of Russian MBTS – T-72s, T-90s etc. I think I've even seen T-62s ?

The Ukraine would be the same, I'd think with not only Russian equipment from former WP nations. But many NATO nations' Western equipment too. E.g. US FA, M113s, German
Leo 1s, UK NLAWs, etc.

Spain donated 1,370 C90-CR (M3) Anti-tank rockets to Ukraine in March 2022.
Some appear to have been distributed to the Territorial Defense Brigades twitter – translation. Some are shown in this tweet, which includes this image:

The brassard on his right arm may be a type with letters that is worn by the Territorial Defense Brigades. Does anyone recognise the death's-head badge he wears? larger image

The DPR claim to have captured C90-CR (M3) grenade launchers from the Ukrainian 54th Mechanized Brigade near Novomykhailivka

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This skull badge is the tactical badge of the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf. A very popular emblem among Ukrainian Nazis.

link

So it doesn't depict any particular unit? It is just like Russian neo-nazis wear.

What does the written next to the symbol say?

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Russian neo-Nazis cannot wear such emblems, at least not for long. Nazi ideology is prohibited by law and the public display of Nazi or similar symbols is a criminal offense. This law was adopted in 2019 and implies serious fines for the first violation, and a prison term for the second.

This mark does not belong to any particular division. This is the whim of the owner.
The inscription is only partially visible, but it is also some kind of slogan. In the top line, I see the word "Morskaya …", in the bottom line something like "time to kill the invaders …"

Did not know Spain donated anything, however, they are part of NATO. And it seems Inf ATGMs are among the items the Ukrainians need most.

And yes any of us who study history know the infamous Nazi SS "Death's Head" insignia. Of the 3d SS Panzer Div. As we see in those photos.

Even my WWII German decal sheets for my models has the "Death's Head" & Swastika. It is part of the history of WWII, etc. We study history so we learn and hopefully don't repeat it.

It is kind of "scary" these "Nazis" are still around. But they seem to be in small numbers in many nations & cultures.

IMO this is a sidebar to the war. The Russians invaded a sovereign nation. Regardless, if that nation's leaders, etc. are "corrupt", etc. or not. The Russians need to be pushed out. With the USA's & NATO's, etc. support this will happen. However, many losses and horrors of war will be along the way to this outcome. So do the Nazis effect this outcome ? One way or another ?

I believe that Death heads have been on European uniforms since they started wearing Uninforms and not limited to German. Some renaissance helmets for that matter.

Yes, I have seen that as well … However, the SS/Nazis have made it infamous, etc.

The image of skulls on the uniform can be varied. But the symbol of the SS division is one ;-)

Did not know Spain donated anything

There is a List of foreign aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War. Some of the military stuff is pretty old stock.

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Thanks ! I was going to look it up !!!

Some French revolutionary hussars used the death head symbol so 1790's.
Also the 17/21st British lancers after Crimea.

Yep !
TMP link

Territorial Defense Brigades, and others, use the 2B9 'Vasilek' automatic 82 mm gun-mortar developed in the Soviet Union in 1967 – 2Б9 «Волошка»

2015 vid of a 2B9 Vasilek 82mm mortar being fired

2017 photo of 3 x 2B9 Vasilek 82mm mortars from milinua

2019 vid of 3 x 2B9 Vasilek 82mm mortars on maneuvers

The OSCE report of 24/2/2022:
"At 16:21, being in Kostiantynivka (government-controlled, 60 km north of Donetsk), the Mission team recorded a convoy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine consisting of 14 armored personnel carriers (BTR-80) and 3 military trucks, each towing a mortar 2B9 "Voloshka", 82 mm), which was moving in the direction of Kramatorsk by the H20 highway."
This is probably a motorised company reinforced with a share of the battalion assets.

They seem to operate in threes – probably a platoon.

There is a photo of six 2B9 at a live fire exercise in 2015.

Ukraine must have enough of these in its inventory to make manufacturing barrels for the 2B9M (air cooled variant) viable.

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Watch This Switchblade Suicide Drone Attack A Russian Tank In Ukraine

link

Armand

Saw the Switchblade in a more relevant thread.

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It is a Patch… bought from Shops. For those who like to wear such.
Think Tee Shirts! 'Guns and Roses or Skynyrd''?

Ukraine Weapons Tracker
"Tachankas [originally horse drawn but now = technical] of the Ukrainian army – a Maxim M1910/30 7.62x54R machine gun installed on a Soviet LuAZ-969 amphibious vehicle and operated by the Territorial Defense of Zaporizhzhia.
TDF units are usually badly mechanized, so this is a way to increase firepower."

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The second machine gun in the car is DP-27.

Interesting photos …

I just read a post about how Ukrainian POW:s hade been found. Hands tied behind their backs. Shirts over their heads and shot in the back of the head.

If you are Ukrainian and wear a SS skull I think it is dumb and stupid. But Russians are committing warcrimes on a almost industrial level.

Some Ukrainians play and pretend nazism, Russians do it all out. I would not hesitate to call it a genocide against the Ukrainian people committed by the Russians.

there are just way too many reports about Russian violence against civilians, or bombing attacks against civilian targets to ignore.

Sorry, Cuprum2, russia is a extremely violent merciless country committing geoncide against a neighboring country. there is no way around that.

Soledad + 1

Armand

Soledad, the executed soldiers were found by whom and where? The Russians are advancing and taking territory, not the Ukrainians.
A few days ago I saw a video on the channel of one of the Russian soldiers, the corpses of executed Ukrainian soldiers with their hands tied and killed in the back of the head. But these were just captured Ukrainian positions. And there were already executed soldiers.
After the Ukrainian parliament received a bill allowing Ukrainian commanders to kill their soldiers for refusing to obey an order or for attempting to surrender, I can assume that they were killed by the Ukrainians themselves, as "cowards and traitors."

So…Russians captured positions and the enemy kindly executed themselves *just before* leaving…Wow, so convenient.
This application of logic and gullibility is breathtaking.

It's stupid to kill prisoners of war. This will force them to fight out of fear for their own lives.

Recently representatives of Ukraine and the Red Cross visited the camps of Ukrainian prisoners of war. There are no claims from prisoners of war. That is why the number of prisoners of war has already exceeded 4 thousand people. These people will survive and return to their families after the war.

youtu.be/ieszF3YIvlA

youtu.be/MJ1495AlXCQ

youtu.be/rRa9zyOEs88

youtu.be/zTDZq28p2jY

But Ukraine refuses to allow representatives of the Red Cross to Russian prisoners of war. I wonder why? Got something to hide?

I just read a post about how Ukrainian POW:s hade been found.

Thus doesn't seem to have anything to do with the topic.

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From Ukrainian Military Pages
What did they promise to arm the territorial defense of Ukraine with? 20/2/2021. Author: Andriy Shynko.

In 2018, the "paper" defense units, which should have been from 2 to 5 in each administrative district were eliminated. Instead, they created 25 separate territorial defense brigades, which in peacetime are staffed, ie kept with a minimum number of personnel.

The staffing structure of the Territorial Defense Brigades (ТрО) is based on the staffs of Soviet motorized infantry brigades in cars that were also staffed and were to be deployed during the war. ТрО brigades consist of six battalions and separate units:

leadership (headquarters, services);
6 separate battalions (4 companies each);
fire support company (machine-gun, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile platoons);
anti-sabotage company (3 platoons, sniper and machine-gun division);
mortar battery (2 platoons);
engineering and sapper company;
field communication node;
logistics company (МТЗ [material, technical, provision)];
commander's company;
medical station;
club.

Battalions, in addition to four companies, include platoons: reconnaissance, anti-tank, machine-gun, engineering and sapper, communications, МТЗ, as well as a medical station.

Regular armament: all the same ZSU-23-2, 60 and 82-mm mortars, MANPADS, anti-tank missile system (ATGM) 9P151 "Metis", grenade launchers and small arms. At the same time, it was planned to equip the brigades with anti-tank weapons and 60-mm mortars of domestic production planned for two years – until 2020 – as they are manufactured by [local] industry.

Of interest – 56P421 "Maxim" in machine-gun platoons of fire support company.

And then the military leaders periodically made statements and announcements about changes in the armament of the territories. Let's remember what exactly was promised.

At the end of 2018, the then Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel-General Serhiy Popko, at a scientific-practical conference "Application of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces in modern conflicts" held in Lviv on November 15, reported that the Metis ATGMs withdrawn from combat units are planned to be transferred to ТрО brigades. In addition, brigades will be supplied with 60-mm mortars, which will significantly increase their potential.

In 2020, the Territorial Defense Command was created within the structure of the Command of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so the Territorials had their own general.

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I was not aware that Ukrainians were about to manufacture their own 60 mm mortars. Certainly not a particularly tricky weapon to produce, and well suited to supporting light infantry. In what kind of numbers has it been manufactured?

I have searched for, but not found any numbers.

The ukrspecexport 2 Mar 2022 catalog : ROCKET ARTILLERY, WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS has 3 x 81mm mortar designs.

KBA.118
KBA.138
M60-16 {«Камертон» Kamerton} (for arming the air assault infantry brigades and special operations teams.)

The 60-мм міномет «Камертон» was issued to Ukraine Special Forces, March 2017

The KBA.138 was issued to Belarus Volunteers International Legion, 24/4/2022.

The Territorial Defense Brigadeshttp://theminiaturespage.com/ mortar link leads to the M60 Kamerton at ukrmilitary.com

SSO of Ukraine conducted mortar training, 26 February, 2020.

KBA-118 mortar being used with US ammunition, 13 May 2022.

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vids & photos from Ukraine Weapons Tracker

Air delivered improvised munitions dropped by a drone of the 98th Battalion 'Azov' of the 108th Territorial Defense Brigade took out a Russian BTR-82A armored personnel carrier. May 16, 2022.
This btn has been in front of Orikhiv for some time according to JiminiW

Tachankas of the Ukrainian army- a Browning M2HB .50 machine gun installed on a Nissan Patrol 4x4 of the Zaporizhzhia Territorial Defense. The M2HB is likely one that was donated by Italy, given the ammo seen here is Italian API-T made by Società Metallurgica Italiana. May 28, 2022.

Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces in Kharkiv Oblast use a captured a Russian BMP-2 IFV. May 31, 2022.

Ukrainian 7.62x51 M14 battle rifles from the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). They are mostly used for training and by Territorial Defense units. Jun 1, 2022.

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Photos from Ukraine Weapons Tracker

Territorial Defense Unit with DShKM HMG, AK-74s and an AR-15. Kyiv, Feb 26, 2022.

The Ex-president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko demonstrating his AKS-74U assault rifle. He claims their territorial defense battalion of 300 people right now operates only 4 NLAW anti-tank launchers and 2 machine guns. Feb 26, 2022.

A Sa vz. 58 P assault rifle with the Territorial Defense volunteers in Mykolaiv Oblast. 5000 of these rifles were recently donated by the Czech Republic. Mar 17, 2022.

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Thanks!

Armand

Volunteer formation of the Lutsk city territorial community No. 1 Lutsk. In addition to regular "official" territorial defense battalions, supernumerary units are also formed from volunteers. Such formations are hardly amenable to any systematization and accounting.
I assume that the marking with green adhesive tape was introduced precisely for such volunteer units.

Anti-aircraft gun 40 mm, developed in 1929-1932 by the Swedish company AB Bofors, on Ukrainian positions. Probably also some part of the territorial defense.

Russian trophy in Kharkiv region:

The Armed Forces of Ukraine widely use mobilized civilian transport:

The territorial community No. 1 Lutsk is well equipped and uniformed, for a force that until recently was only allowed to have hunting rifles.

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I think the equipment depends on who is the sponsor of the unit – wealthy citizens or organizations may well provide volunteers with the best samples.
As for weapons, it depends on the availability of weapons in local armories or in local law enforcement organizations (for example, private security structures, police structures, etc.). Analogies arise with the militia during the Second World War in the USSR. Some militia units were armed disgustingly, but some could not yield in anything, and even surpass the regular army in some types of weapons (the Leningrad divisions of the People's Militia).
Let's remember how in Kyiv the AK-74 was handed out on the streets to everyone.

Machine gun DP-27 of the Ukrainian army in battle:

youtu.be/qHIApwqBBN4

I just saw the same one: Ukrainian forces training with a vintage DP-27 light machine gun that has had optics and a suppressor added. Ukraine Weapons Tracker, Jun 2, 2022.

=====================
9K115 Metis anti-tank guided missile (US designation AT-7 or Saxhorn) military-today

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Комишуваха Komyshuvakha May 30-31.
"This is our territorial defense.
Sergei Saussure, a fighter in the 131st ТрО Battalion, heroically neutralizes a Russian tank by jumping on it and throwing a grenade inside. You will rarely see this."

vid on Telegram

The 131st Battalion is part of the 112th Territorial Defence Brigade

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I don't understand what the feat is – to throw a grenade inside a tank hit and abandoned by the crew.

I'd like to know what type of grenades they have been issued.
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I'll repost this vid of TD on a movie set with BTR-3 and KRAZ "Spartan".
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The Tachankas of Territorial Defense of Zaporizhzhia in a photo above appears in a Suspilne vid. A Metis ATGM also appears and what other weapons?

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Some very interesting photos !

Maxim M1910 HMG

WW1 Weapons Still Used 2022 by Mark Felton Productions.

Starting at 8.50
Ukraine had 35,000 Maxim M1910 HMG in storage in 2011
Stills:

1

2

3

Having 35,000, it is likely that the original 25 Territorial Defence Brigades had these as their only MMG in Feb 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Officially, the tables of organization for a Territorial Defence Brigade have almost no heavy weapons at all, just 82mm mortars (2B9) as shown above. The 57mm S-60 "gun trucks" are likely issued as anti-air assets for defending important sites rather than issued to frontline formations that are just holding the flanks of the regular professional formations. They are probably used against ground targets in situations where the AA elements are in close contact with enemies. What TDB's have a lot of is infantry battalions: six on paper.

Well even older weapons like we see here will still kill you …