3rd Assault Brigade

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]

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
  • 3rd Tank Battalion "Steel Wolves"
  • 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
    • MLRS Battalion
  • Reconnaissance UAV Battalion Terra
  • Intelligence UAV Battalion Kryla
  • Sniper platoon "GAR"
  • Intelligence Company
  • 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion
  • 3rd Logistics Battalion
  • Signals Company
  • Maintenance Battalion
  • Radar Company
  • Medical Company
  • CBRN Company
  • Brigade Band