3rd Separate Assault Brigade
3-тя окрема штурмова бригада
3-tia okrema shturmova bryhada
Brigade patch
Active1 November 2022 – present
Country Ukraine
Branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
RoleMechanized Infantry
Part ofOperational Command North
Garrison/HQKyiv, Kyiv Oblast
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial Website
Official Telegram channel
Official Facebook page
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Andriy Biletsky
Dmytro Kukharchuk

The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade (Ukrainian: 3-тя окрема штурмова бригада, romanized: 3-tia okrema shturmova bryhada) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022.[2]

The brigade was established by a merger of the Azov SSO (Special Operations Forces) units that had been created by former Azov Battalion veterans.[3][4]

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 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 (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and became collectively known as "Azov SSO".[3][5]

In November 2022, 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.[6][4] 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.[3][4] According to Andriy Biletsky, as of January 2023 the brigade was deployed in the Battle of Bakhmut.[7][4][8][9]

An important milestone for the brigade occurred on 24 February 2023, when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally presented the Regimental Colour during a ceremonial event.[10]

The brigade's soldiers took part in the liberation of Kherson and Kherson region, as well as in the Battle of Bakhmut.[11] On April 12, 2023, the brigade's official media resources announced the start of recruitment efforts.[12] In May 2023, it was one of the first to report successful offensives in the Bakhmut district against the Russian Ground Forces.[13]

On 15 September 2023, after months of fighting, the brigade liberated Andriivka,[14] 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.

The commander of the "Azov Tactical Group", which is part of the 3rd Special Operations Brigade is Andriy Biletsky.[15]

Structure

As of 2023 the brigade's structure is as follows:[16]

  • 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • 1st Assault Infantry Battalion
      • HHC
      • 3rd Assault Company
    • 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion. The commander is Dmytro Kukharchuk.[17]
      • HHC
      • 1st Assault Company
        • Galician platoon
      • 2nd Assault Company
        • "Decepticons" platoon
        • "Wolf Pack" platoon
        • "Myron" platoon
      • Reconnaissance and Assault Company "Hornet"
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion. Formed in February 2022 as 98th Territorial Defence Battalion 'Azov-Dnipro'. Deputy Commander Bohdan Korzhenko "Adik".
      • HHC
      • 1st Company
      • 2nd Company
      • 3rd Company
      • Reconnaissance Platoon.
      • 1st Mortar Battery. 120mm mortars, Commander "Bald"
      • 2nd Mortar Battery. 82mm mortars. Commander "Shamil"
      • Technical Support Platoon
      • Medical Platoon
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
      • HHC
      • 1st Company
      • 2nd Company
        • Hydra Unit
      • 3rd Company
      • "Punk" Unit. UAV Group. Artillery Spotting, FPV drops
      • "Lumiere" UAV Group. FPV drops and kamikaze drones.
      • 1st Mortar Battery. 120mm mortars
      • 2nd Mortar Battery "Gang of Gunners". 82mm mortars
      • Technical Support Platoon
      • Fire Support Platoon
      • Medical Platoon
    • 1st Rifle Infantry Btn
    • 2nd Rifle Infantry Btn
    • 3rd Tank Battalion
      • HHC
      • 2nd Armored Company
        • Tank unit "Steel Wolves"
    • 3rd Brigade Anti-tank Battalion
      • "Fatum" Reconnaissance and Strike UAV Unit. FPV drops and kamikaze drones.
    • 3rd Anti-aircraft Defense Missile Artillery Battalion
    • 3rd Field Artillery Regiment
      • HQ and Target Acquisition Battery
      • Artillery Reconnaissance Battery (BUAR)
      • 1st Self-propelled Artillery Battalion "Commando Postril"
      • 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion
      • 3rd MLRS Battalion
    • Reconnaissance UAV Battalion Terra
    • Intelligence UAV Battalion Kryla
    • "Mosquito" UAV Battalion
    • Sniper platoon "GAR"
    • Intelligence Company
    • 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion
    • 3rd Logistics Battalion
    • 3rd Brigade Signals Company
    • 3rd Brigade Maintenance Battalion
    • Radar Company
    • Medical Company
    • CBRN Company
    • Brigade Band

References

  1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66080652
  2. ↑ "3-я окрема штурмовова бригада | ЗОШБр | Офіційний сайт". ab3.army. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  3. 1 2 3 "Special operations forces of SSO Azov regiment become separate assault brigade of Ground Forces and fight in Bakhmut". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "SSO Azov Reformed and is Now the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade". Atlas News. 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  5. ↑ Ball, Tom (30 May 2022). "Azov Battalion drops neo-Nazi symbol exploited by Russian propagandists". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460.
  6. ↑ "SSO Azov becomes Separate Assault Brigade with Army's Ground Forces". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  7. ↑ "ССО "Азова" стали бригадою Сухопутних військ і вже воюють в Бахмуті". www.pravda.com.ua. uk:Українська правда. 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  8. ↑ "ССО "Азов" офіційно увійшли до складу ЗСУ". espreso.tv. uk:Еспресо TV. 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  9. ↑ "Полк ССО "Азов" став 3-ю штурмовою бригадою Сухопутних військ ЗСУ". novynarnia.com. uk:новинарня. 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  10. ↑ Суспільне Новини (Feb 24, 2023). "Зеленський до річниці великої війни нагородив військових на Софіївській площі". YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Унікальні кадри війни з передової Бахмута Хроніка боїв азовців - документальний фільм".
  12. ↑ Цензор.НЕТ. "3-тя окрема штурмова бригада оголосила набір добровольців". Цензор.НЕТ (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  13. ↑ "Украинские военные заявили, что 72-я бригада войск РФ оставила позиции под Бахмутом". ГОЛОС АМЕРИКИ (in Russian). 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  14. ↑ Жан Рофе (2023-09-15). "Генштаб: ВСУ освободили Андреевку к югу от Бахмута" [General Staff: AFU liberated Andreevka south of Bakhmut]. dw.com (in Russian). DW. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  15. ↑ "Ukrainian military reveals garbage and ammunition left by invaders during retreat from Bakhmut positions". news.yahoo.com.
  16. ↑ "3rd Separate Assault Infantry Brigade – Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Units to Watch #1". Get the Latest Ukraine News Today - KyivPost. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  17. ↑ "Military in Mariupol has enough fighters, but they need equipment, aviation – National Corps". Interfax-Ukraine.
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