Head of Donetsk Oblast military civilian administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi on 27 April 2018 announced that a Brigade will be formed in Donetsk Oblast. Battalions were planned to be in Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Pokrovsk and two in Mariupol.[1] On 1 July 2018 the brigade was formed in Donetsk Oblast.[2] 3,500 soldiers aged twenty-five to sixty-years old signed 3-5 year contracts. Five day exercises were planned in Bakhmut starting 25 September for the 6 battalions. Battalions were stationed in Mariupol, Bakhmut, Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, Marinka and Volnovakha.[3]
104th Defense Battalion was made up of reservists from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Toretsk and Sloviansk.[4]
Russo-Ukrainian War
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
The 104th Defense Battalion fought in Bakhmut from 24 February to November. From December to January 2023, the battalion was moved to Sumy Oblast to help protect the border. In January and February, the battalion was involved in combat near Kreminna.[4]
Emblem shows a crossed silver spear with a sabre. This image was used as a seal for Kalmius Palanka, a territorial district within the organization of the Zaporozhian Host the Lower, current territory of Donetsk Oblast.[7]