3rd Assault Brigade (Ukraine)

The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade () is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022.

The brigade was established by a merger of the Azov SSO (Special Operations Forces (Ukraine), Special Operations Forces) units that had been created by former Azov Battalion veterans. The brigade is commanded by Andriy Biletsky, founder and former commander of the Azov Battalion and former People's Deputy of Ukraine.

History

With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most units of the Azov Regiment were based in Mariupol where they soon Siege of Mariupol, would be besieged. Outside of Mariupol, many former veterans of Azov outside the city began forming new units, in particular in Kyiv, Sumy and Kharkiv. These units were soon integrated into the Special Operations Forces (Ukraine), Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and became collectively known as "Azov SSO".

In January 2023, all the former Azov SSO were merged into a single fully operational combat unit within the Ukrainian Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The formation of this brigade was strategically designed to create a highly mobile, well-equipped, and extensively trained force capable of engaging in both defensive and offensive operations.

An important milestone for the brigade occurred on 24 February 2023, when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally presented the Regimental Colour during a ceremonial event. The colors of the brigade were said to symbolize "the tenacity of the traditions of Ukrainian statehood: from princely times [of Kievan Rus'], the Cossacks, Cossack period, the Ukrainian War of Independence, first liberation struggles [in the early 20th century] to modern times".

The brigade's soldiers took part in the liberation of Kherson and parts of the Kherson Oblast, as well as in the battle of Bakhmut. On 12 April 2023, the brigade's official media resources announced the start of recruitment efforts. In May 2023, it was one of the first to report successful offensives in the Bakhmut district against the Russian Ground Forces.

On 15 September 2023, after 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, months of fighting, the brigade liberated Andriivka, Bakhmut Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Andriivka, and held onto it despite a Russian counterattack on 17 September. Ukrainian ground forces commander General Syrskyi called Klishchiivka and Andriivka "important elements of the Russian Bakhmut-Horlivka defensive line", and ISW assessed that the capture of these settlements defending a key Russian ground line of communication will make it difficult for the already weary defending forces to replenish and continue defending.

In February 2024, shortly after the dismissal of Zaluzhnyi, the brigade was transferred into Avdiivka to relieve the potential encirclement of the city. After the fall of Avdiivka on February 17, the brigade took new defensive lines west of Avdiivka around Lastochkyne.
On 17 February, the brigade's press officer, Oleksandr Borodin, claimed that during its relocation to Avdiivka, his unit had killed 1,500 Russians, wounded over 3,500, and destroyed 20 armoured vehicles. He also said that the brigade has "no reports" of large numbers of their soldiers being taken prisoner.

On 27 May 2024, the brigade claimed to have killed, wounded or taken prisoner "close to" 600 Russian troops in 2024 Kharkiv offensive, Kharkiv Oblast. One Russian soldier captured by the brigade claimed in an interview that he was the only survivor of his 15-man section following an attack.
On 19 June, the brigade claimed that their 1st Mechanised Battalion had killed 250 Russians in Kharkiv Oblast, publishing a video that purportedly proved their claims.

On 22 August 2024, the brigade claimed to have taken two square kilometers in a counterattack against Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army, 20th Army in Kharkiv Oblast. Despite being outnumbered 2.5 to 1, they claimed to have defeated a battalion, including "platoon and company strong points", killing 300 personnel in three days and diverting Russian forces away from Makiivka, Luhansk Oblast, Makiivka.

In November 2024, it was reported that certain units of the brigade's 2nd Assault Battalion were operating in the Kharkiv Oblast.

Plans to transform this elite formation to become the III Army Corps (Assault) began in March 2025, with Andriy Biletskyi expected to retain his billet of commanding officer upon the conclusion of the reorganization process.

In late March 2025, it was reported that units of the brigade, had recaptured the village of Nadiia, Luhansk Oblast, Nadiia in the Luhansk Oblast. Biletskyi claimed that this resulted in the destruction of two regiments of Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army: the 752nd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, 752nd and 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division, 254th Motor Rifle Regiments. The operation to recapture Nadiia was mainly conducted by the brigade's 1st Assault Battalion, though other units were involved, including the brigade's 2nd Mechanized Battalion and its tank battalion. The next month, combat continued near the village of Nadiia; the brigade's 1st Assault Battalion, 1st Mechanized Battalion, and 2nd Mechanized Battalion were reportedly involved.

In a late March 2025 interview, Biletskyi said that the brigade was defending the town of Borova, Izium Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, Borova in the Kharkiv Oblast, which he said was a Russian target. The 3rd Assault Brigade was opposed by units of the 1st Guards Tank Army and the 20th Combined Arms Army.

During an undated operation, the 3rd Assault Brigade claimed the world’s first surrender of enemy soldiers to unmanned drones in the Kharkiv Oblast. Fpv and ground drones were used to attack the Russian positions. As more ground drones approached the position, the Russians opted to surrender. The Ukrainian ground drones then guided the Russians soldiers to the Ukrainian position where they surrendered. The press release read: "For the first time in history: Russian soldiers surrendered to the 3rd Assault Brigade's ground drones,".

Controversies

According to the independent French investigative online newspaper ''Mediapart'', the French army trained soldiers from the 3rd Assault Brigade at the La Courtine camp, in the Creuse (département), Creuse in 2023. Several of them displayed neo-Nazism, neo-Nazi symbols and on their social network profiles, including "Nazi salute, Hitlerian salutes, Celtic cross, Celtic crosses, emblems of several Schutzstaffel, SS divisions, Totenkopf, skulls, pictures of Adolf Hitler". Mediapart asked the Ministry of Armed Forces (France), French Ministry of the Armed Forces to comment on the matter. The response was "It is the Ukrainian armed forces that organise the flow and selection of Ukrainian soldiers sent to France and Europe. We therefore have no comment to make on this organisation." The Politician Catherine Couturier protested against the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

In 2022, the Canadian Army was also criticised for training soldiers of the 3rd Assault Brigade.

In July 2024, the brigade organised a tour through Europe to recruit volunteers and promote their image. After protests from left-wing groups, especially in Germany, events in Berlin, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Cologne and Brussels were cancelled.

Structure

As of 2024, the brigade's structure is as follows:

* 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast. Brigade executive officer Major Maksym Zhorin since 2023.
** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
** 1st Assault Infantry Battalion. Commander Petro "Rollo" Horbatenko.
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Assault Company
*** 2nd Assault Company
*** 3rd Assault Company
*** 4th Assault Company
***Mortar Battery
***Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Loitering munition, FPV Drone Unit "Primus"
*** Special Reconnaissance and Sabotage Unit "Hatred"
*** Engineer Platoon
*** Communication Center "S6"
*** Medical Platoon
** 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion. Commander Dmytro Kukharchuk, Dmytro "Slip" Kukharchuk.
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Assault Company
**** 1st Assault Platoon "Galician"
**** 2nd Assault Platoon "Algiz"
**** 3rd Assault Platoon
*** 2nd Assault Company
**** "Decepticons" Platoon
**** "Wolf Pack" Platoon
**** "Myron" Platoon
*** 3rd Assault Company
**** 1st Platoon "NC13"
**** 2nd Platoon "Frost"
**** 3rd Platoon "Pesto"
*** 4th Assault Company
*** Shershen Drone Company
*** Communications Platoon
*** Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Engineering and Sapper Platoon
*** Medical Platoon
** Reconnaissance and Strike Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV Unit "Hornet"
** 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion. Formed in February 2022 as 98th Territorial Defence Battalion 'Azov-Dnipro'. Commander Bohdan Korzhenko "Adik".
***Headquarters & Headquarters Company
***1st Mechanized Company
***2nd Mechanized Company
*** 3rd Mechanized Company
****FRST Crew
*** Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Unmanned combat aerial vehicle, Attack Drone Platoon "Revenge Group"
***Armored Group. Commander "Malyuk"
****Separate Anti-Tank Platoon
****1st Mortar Battery. 120mm mortars, Commander "Bald"
****2nd Mortar Battery. 82mm mortars. Commander "Shamil"
*** Separate Engineering and Sapper Platoon
***Technical Support Platoon
*** Anti-Tank Platoon
*** Mortar Battery
*** Air-Defense Platoon
*** Grenade Platoon
*** Signals Platoon
*** Medical Platoon
** 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion. Commander Denys "Var" Sokur.
***Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Mechanized Company
**** "Spear" Platoon
*** 2nd Mechanized Company. Chief Sergeant "Tarzan"
**** "Hydra" Unit
*** 3rd Mechanized Company. Commander Oleksandr "Salidol" Vinnikov.
***4th Mechanized Company. Commander "Gerysh"
*** Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV Group "Punk". Artillery Spotting, FPV loitering munition, FPV drops.
*** Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV Group "Lumiere". FPV loitering munition, FPV drops and kamikaze drones.
*** 1st Mortar Battery. 120mm mortars
*** 2nd Mortar Battery "Gang of Gunners". 82mm mortars
***Technical Support Platoon
*** Fire Support Platoon (SPG-9, Mk 19 grenade launcher, Mk 19)
*** Air-Defense Platoon
*** Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Grenade Platoon
*** Signals Platoon
*** Engineering and Sapper Platoon
*** Medical Platoon
** 1st Rifle Battalion
*** 1st Rifle Company
*** 2nd Rifle Company
*** 3rd Rifle Company
*** Fire Support Platoon
*** Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Engineering and Sapper Platoon
*** Signals Platoon
*** Medical Center
** 2nd Rifle Battalion
*** 1st Rifle Company
*** 2nd Rifle Company
*** 3rd Rifle Company
*** Fire Support Platoon
*** Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Engineering and Sapper Platoon
*** Signals Platoon
*** Medical Center
** International Battalion
*** HHC
** Spanish Storm Company
*** 1st Storm Company
*** 2nd Storm Company
*** 3rd Storm Company
** Tank Battalion
***Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Tank Company
*** 2nd Tank Company "Steel Wolves"
** Field Artillery Regiment
*** Headquarters and Target Acquisition Battery
*** Observer Battery
*** 1st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion "Commando Postril"
*** 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion
**** 2nd Artillery Battery "Thunder Riders"
*** Multiple rocket launcher, Rocket Artillery Battalion (Bastion-01 and Bastion-02)
*** Anti-Tank Battalion
**** 1st Company
**** 3rd Company "Centuria"
**** Loitering munition, FPV Drone Unit "Paskuda Group"
** Anti-aircraft Defense Missile Artillery Regiment
** Unmanned Systems Battalion (formed in February 2024 as an expansion of Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV group "Kryla")
*** Aerial reconnaissance, Aerial Reconnaissance Company "Kryla"
*** Reconnaissance and Strike Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV Unit "Fatum"
*** Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV Crew "Over Head"
*** Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV Crew "Vitrolom"
*** Aerial Reconnaissance Unit "Terra"
*** Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV Unit "Mosquitos"
** Sniper Platoon "GAR"
** NOVA Technology Center
** Intelligence Company
** Engineer Battalion
*** Engineer Reconnaissance Platoon
*** Engineer Sapper Platoon
** Logistics Battalion
** Signals Company
** Khorunzha Service
** Maintenance Battalion
** Radar Company
** Medical Company
** CBRN defense, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Company
** Loitering munition, FPV Drone Training School "Kill House"
** MP Platoon
** Brigade Band

References

{{Ukrainian Ground Forces

Military units and formations established in 2023
Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Mechanized brigades of Ukraine