Formation

On 30 June 2018, the brigade was formed in Kherson Oblast.^[1] From September 3 to 12, 2018,^[2] brigade-wide training exercises were held, involving close to 3,500 reservists up to sixty years old. Exercises were held in Bilozerka Raion, Oleshky Raion, Henichesk Raion, Ivanivka Raion, and Skadovsk Raion. Each battalion only had two contract permanent officers, commander and chief of staff, with everyone else being a reservist. A battalion stationed in Oleshky took 300 of its reservists from Oleshky Raion, Kakhovka Raion and Novovorontsovka Raion.^[3] The 195th battalion had 290 reservists, including 41 officers from Oleshky Raion, Hola Prystan Raion and Skadovsk Raion.^[4] The 197th battalion was stationed on Arabat Spit, and after September 7, began joint patrols with State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and guarding of critical infrastructure in Henichesk Raion.^[5][6] From 5 to 15 December, another exercise was held.^[7] Kherson Oblast governor Andrii Gordieiev gave awards to members of the 193rd battalion for their participation in the exercise.^[8]

Between September 19 and 26, 2020, the 196th battalion took part in another exercise.^[9][10]

Another exercise was held from April 7 to 16, 2021, at the cost of two and a half million hryvnia.^[11][12]

The 197th battalion had 70% of its contract positions filled by 16 February 2022.^[13] However, this specific battalion had insufficient living conditions. Later, a new base was founded in Henichesk.^[14]

Russo-Ukrainian War