The Coastal Defense brigade was subordinate to the Ukrainian Navy replacing the 32nd Army Corps in defending Crimea.

[1] In 2003 the 32nd Army Corps, which was tasked with the defense of Crimea and fielded 12,000 troops, was disbanded.

Following the disbandment 6,400 servicemen where re-deployed to other parts of the country, and the remaining 5,600 troops where transferred to the Ukrainian navy and reorganized into new units in 2004.

[1] Early in the morning of February 27, 2014, the Brigade awoke to find their barracks surrounded by unmarked Russian speaking special forces.

Out of 1200 servicemen, 199 left for unoccupied Ukraine, 300 quit, the rest swore allegiance to the Russian Federation.