Territorial Defense Forces (Ukraine)
The Territorial Defence Forces () are the military reserve component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Territorial Defence Forces were formed after the reorganization of the Territorial Defence Battalions, volunteer militias created during the War in Donbas under the command of the Ministry of Defence. Territorial Defence units existed from 2015 until 2021 in semi-organized forms until 2022 when they were formally organized into a unified defense corps under the Territorial Defence Forces. It is formed by a core of part-time reservists, usually former combat veterans, and in cases of war can be expanded  to local civilian volunteers for local defense, in a case of mass mobilization. That core is expected to lead the mobilized volunteers. The Territorial Defense Forces also contain the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, formed by foreign volunteers. History. In 2014 the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered a series of humiliating defeats, the Annexation of Crimea by Russia led to the takeover of the peninsula as most of the military either surrendered without resistance or defected to Russia. While in the initial stages War in Donbas, the Ukrainian military had a number of setbacks and defeats against the  pro-Russian separatist forces, as they were ill-prepared, ill-equipped, lacking in professionalism, morale, fighting spirit and with severe incompetence in the high command. As the Donbas situation deteriorated, many civilians started to form volunteer militias and paramilitary groups to fight the separatists, known as the "Volunteer Battalions". The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine started to organize and mobilize some these units as the Territorial Defence Battalions. The Territorial Defense Battalions and other Volunteer Battalions were credited to have held the line against separatist forces and allow the Ukrainian military to reorganize and mobilize. In late 2014 the system  of territorial defense of Ukraine changed. Territorial defense battalions were reorganized and transferred to the mechanized infantry brigade of the Army. To replace them, a new structure of the territorial defense forces of the Armed Forces was gradually introduced. The example of Ukrainian Forces was later used by Poland to build its own armed forces, which from 2015 and on implemented a similar practice. On 25 May 2021, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced a law to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) "on the basis of national resistance" that proposed to increase the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine  by 11,000 servicemen. The old Territorial Defence units would be now organized under the new Territorial Defense Forces as a standalone branch of the Armed Forces. Veterans of the Donbas War from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine and other paramilitary forces invovled in the conflict would provide a backbone to train and lead the mobilized volunteers. On 16 July 2021 parliament approved this bill, and on 29 July 2021 Zelensky signed the law. On 1 January 2022, the Territorial Defence Forces were officially activated. The creation of the branch coincided with the Russian military build-up  which had been ongoing since 2021. On 11 February 2022, the planned number of volunteers was increased to 1.5 to 2 million. As a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Territoral Defense Forces reserves were activated and several civilians joined local Territoral Defense Forces groups to fight the Russian invaders. On 25 February, during the rapid Russian offensive into Kyiv, the Ukrainian government distributed 18,000 guns for people wishing to fight in Kyiv. For the next few days, the Territorial Forces were engaged in various combat situations and battles around Ukraine, supporting the Ukrainian Ground Forces and  National Guard of Ukraine. By 6 March, almost 100,000 people had volunteered for the Territorial Defense Forces. Some units stopped accepting volunteer as they reached their operational limit. There were reports of Ukrainian volunteers paying bribes or using connections to join the Territorial Defense. On 27 February, as a result of many foreigners volunteering to fight for Ukraine, President Zelenskyy created the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, a foreign legion which was placed under the command of the Territorial Defense Forces. Organisation. Territorial defense throughout Ukraine is organized by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine , or regional administrations in the relevant areas, within their powers. Direct supervision of state territorial defense is done by the head of the General Staff; the Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Because of their territorial defense tasks the Territorial Defense Forces are involved in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, including law enforcement bodies, units of the State Special Transport Service, State Special Communications Service of Ukraine and the relevant authorities. Regional military commissariats form separate rifle battalions. District (city) military commissariats form defense units in an  amount of 2 to 5 units, depending on the assigned tasks. Regional and district military commissariats have a staff defence company, involved in the task of territorial defense (TD). All units are equipped reservists and military service obligatories. Preparation of the units of TD held within educational meeting of military service (with practical appeal) and the activities carried out between educational meeting.