Major

Vitaliy Ivanov

The commander of Strazh Battalion of the National Guard

Born:

Birthplace:

unknown

Nationality:

Ukrainian

Branch of service:

Offensive Guard

Known by the callsign “Chezet”, he graduated from the National Aviation University with a degree in Aircraft Maintenance. Until 2022, he was engaged in managerial activities.

In February 2022, he joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces, where he commanded a separate Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Platoon. He participated in operations to cover Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson Oblasts. In the spring of 2023, he joined the ranks of the Azov Brigade, of the Ukrainian National Guard, where he went from an infantryman to the Deputy Commander of a Company.

He commanded an infantry unit during the battles in the Serebryansky Forest and the New York and Toretsk directions. He was wounded while performing combat missions in the Serebryansky Forest. He was later awarded the “Firearms” distinction, as well as a number of departmental awards from the Ukrainian National Guard and National Security and Defense Council. He would later go on to serve in the 6th Special Purpose Battalion of the Brigade.

In September 2025, he began forming an Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Battalion directly subordinated to the 1st Azov Corps, which would begin to carry out operations in the corps’ area of responsibility.