From the very first hours of Russia’s large-scale aggression in February 2022, Bayraktar TB2 crews carried out the most challenging and dangerous missions:

• Thwarting the blitzkrieg and defending the capital: The strike systems delivered devastating precision strikes against enemy columns of armored vehicles, fuel tankers, and air defense systems stretching for many kilometers in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions, halting the occupiers’ advance toward Ukrainian cities.
• Artillery spotting and reconnaissance: Thanks to their advanced optics and target-acquisition systems, the drones ensured precise guidance of Ukrainian artillery toward key enemy targets.
• The battle for Chornobaivka and Zmiinyi Island: Legendary footage of the destruction of enemy equipment in the Kherson region (particularly near Chornobaivka) and the elimination of occupiers on Zmiinyi Island (including “Raptor” and “Serna” class boats and air defense systems) has made its way into textbooks on modern military history.
• Assistance in the destruction of the flagship: In April 2022, Bayraktar crews played a crucial role in diverting attention and providing reconnaissance support during the historic defeat and sinking of the missile cruiser “Moscow.”

The Bayraktar TB2 has united the entire civilized world in support of Ukraine. The legendary mass fundraising efforts as part of the “People’s Bayraktar” initiatives in Ukraine (Serhiy Prytula’s foundation and blogger Lachenkov), as well as similar campaigns in Lithuania (Andrius Tapinas) and Poland (Sławomir Sierakowski), demonstrated unprecedented solidarity. Witnessing this unity, the manufacturer Baykar repeatedly decided to provide the combat systems—which had been paid for by the public—completely free of charge, directing the savings toward the humanitarian and defense needs of the Ukrainian people.

This memorial in Cherkasy is a tribute to the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the courage of Ukrainian defenders, and the unbreakable popular resistance that sustains and defends Ukraine every day, as well as to the advanced technologies that reliably serve our nation.

Historical Roots and Motto

The brigade bears the honorary name “Kholodny Yar” in honor of the legendary historical site in the Cherkasy region—a symbol of the struggle for Ukrainian statehood. The unit’s enduring motto is: “Glory to Kholodny Yar!”

A Path of Courage and Heroism

• Since 2014 (Donbas and Luhansk Oblast): The brigade’s soldiers held defensive positions in the fiercest sectors of the front, fighting across the borders of Luhansk Oblast and in battles for Ilovaisk, Pisky, Avdiivka, Donetsk Airport, and the Bakhmut Highway. In the fall of 2021, the unit took control of the village of Staromariivka, where they used a “Bayraktar” drone in combat for the first time to destroy an enemy howitzer.
• Okhtyrka and Trostianets (February–March 2022): From the very first days of the full-scale invasion, the fighters repelled the occupiers in Okhtyrka, captured numerous pieces of enemy equipment—which they later used to destroy the enemy—and, on March 26, 2022, liberated Trostyanets in cooperation with the Territorial Defense Forces and partisans.
• The Kharkiv Sector and Husarivka: The brigade’s tank battalion defended Kharkiv, driving the enemy out of Rohan and Malaya Rohan. Subsequently, the Kholodny Yar soldiers fought intense battles in the Izyum sector and liberated the village of Husarivka, destroying dozens of enemy vehicles.
• The Battle for Bakhmut (2022–2023): The brigade held positions on the outskirts of the city, and beginning in January 2023, it fought fierce battles within Bakhmut, where, thanks to the titanic efforts and resilience of its personnel, a significant number of enemy forces were crushed.

For the courage, heroism, and resilience of its personnel in confronting Russian aggression, the brigade has been awarded the honorary distinction “For Courage and Bravery.” It is a strong shield of Ukraine, standing in defense of our nation’s freedom and independence.