4th Rapid Reaction Brigade (Ukraine)

Soldiers of the 4th Brigade in 2016.

Although the Brigade was established on 2 June 2015, actual recruitment of personnel to the brigade started in October 2015.[3] The unit was trained by foreign military advisers and veterans in conformity with NATO standards, including by Canadian soldiers as part of Operation UNIFIER, most recently in summer 2021.[4]

On 2 June 2016, the formation was presented its colours.[1] According to pro-Russian website Essence of Time, on 19 June 2016 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko decided to send the Brigade to Donbas.[5] On 11 August 2020, the brigade was awarded the honorific of Sergeant Serhii Mykhalcuk, who died in combat in December 2019 in Bakhmut Raion and was awarded the title 'Hero of Ukraine' posthumously.[6]

The Brigade was reportedly involved in fighting against a Russian Airborne Troops air assault in the Battle for Antonov Airport, located at outskirts Kyiv in Hostomel, on 24 February 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7] The 4th Brigade's fast reaction and counter-attack prevented the airport from being captured by the Russian forces on the first day, and helped to prevent the airport being used to airlift more troops and capture the capital Kyiv. As a result, the Kyiv Offensive turned into a slog fought in the city's northwestern metropolitan areas in Hostomel, Bucha and Irpin.[8]

After the retreat of Russian forces from the Kyiv axis, the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade was redeployed to the East Ukraine, to fight at the Eastern Ukraine offensive.[9] In the east, unit was involved at the Battle of Severodonetsk, where they fought a month-long defense of the city.[10][11] And later in the year, the unit was deployed at Bakhmut to fight in the Battle of Bakhmut.[12]

The brigade includes;

• Brigade HQ and HQ Company
• 1st Infantry Battalion
• 2nd Infantry Battalion
• 3rd "Svoboda" Infantry Battalion
• Tank Battalion
• Field Artillery Battalion
• Anti-aircraft Missile Defense Battalion
• Support Units

The brigade also includes the units of UAV aircraft, intelligence, communications and logistics.[1] Both soldiers with combat experience and new recruits were accepted to the Brigade.[2]