Adolfovna's grandchildren: Members of the 66th Brigade shared an unusual story about how the battalion got its name
Soldiers from the 2nd Mechanized Battalion “Adolfovna’s Grandchildren” of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade shared the story behind their unit’s unusual name.
As the soldiers explained, this story began back when the current battalion commander, Yuriy—whose call sign is “Yudz”—was serving in another unit.
According to “Yudz,” the command and observation post (COP) of his unit at that time was located in the only building in the entire village that had survived intact.
“The picturesque house was painted with Ukrainian ornaments on the outside, and inside, one could sense architectural elements that reflected the historical way of life,” the soldiers say.
Later, the building sustained critical damage as a result of yet another Russian shelling. At that time, “Yudz,” then still a lieutenant, took a portrait of a woman that had been hanging on the wall of the house with him as a personal talisman.
Later, the soldier decided to find out exactly who was depicted in the portrait. He contacted the owners of the house, who had left it after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
That’s how Yuriy learned that the woman’s name was Hanna Adolfivna.
After some time, the battalion headquarters, which was stationed in Hanna Adolfivna’s family home, began calling itself “Adolfivna’s grandchildren.” In this way, the soldiers wanted to preserve the memory of the woman and her devotion to Ukrainian folk traditions.
When “Yudzh” later transferred to the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 66th Mechanized Brigade, he took this symbol with him.
The portrait of Hanna Adolfivna became the talisman of the new unit and now hangs on the wall of the command post of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion.
The commander also established a tradition within the unit of recognizing service members who have contributed to the battalion’s development.
These soldiers are awarded chevrons bearing the image of Hanna Adolfivna.
“Adolfivna’s portrait has become the talisman of his new unit and hangs on the wall of the command post of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, and the soldiers consider themselves her grandchildren,” the battalion notes.
Thus, an ordinary portrait from a war-damaged house has become a symbol of the unit, its traditions, and its combat brotherhood.
This is what the soldiers shared.
As a reminder, the first foreign volunteers from five continents have begun piloting drones in the “Spalah” unmanned systems battalion.
Earlier, the Ground Forces commented on reports of the disbandment of foreign legions, stating that all of this is taking place “as part of the overall transformation of the Defense Forces and in consideration of the needs of the front.” Foreigners will be able to continue serving in accordance with their profession, experience, and training.
