The 103rd separate territorial defence brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was honoured with the name “named after Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky”.
The Brigade is the first terrorist defence brigade in the history of Ukraine to receive a symbolic ribbon with an honorary name, the Brigade’s press service said.
Today, the ribbon with the honorary name was handed over to the commander of the 103rd Brigade, Colonel Ihor Bondarenko, by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during the celebrations on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine on Sofiyivska Square.
“This is a significant event for our unit,” the brigade commander said after the ceremony, “We have been named after a clergyman who has always cared about Ukraine. Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky was always a faithful and devoted son of the Ukrainian people! For the personnel of our brigade, this name is of great importance!” – summed up the commander of the 103rd Brigade, Colonel Ihor Bondarenko.
“I thank all the personnel for what you have done since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and continue to do to make Ukraine free, independent and return all its territories illegally seized by Russia,” commented Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the UDF.
“Special thanks to Colonel Valeriy Kurko, who formed this brigade and under whose leadership it achieved significant combat success.
Light and eternal memory to all the soldiers who returned “on the shield”. We are grateful to everyone who serves in this brigade and fulfils the will of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky: “Love your own, hold on to your own and take care of your own.”