Fokin becomes the new commander of 125th Heavy Brigade

Major Volodymyr Fokin, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, has been appointed commander of the 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, the unit announced on its Facebook page.

The 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade was formed from the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade during the Defense Forces’ corps-to-brigade structural reform. In August 2025, the brigade joined the 3rd Army Corps.

The leadership change comes after soldiers from the brigade’s repair battalion voiced complaints in September 2025. The soldiers said they were being deployed to frontline positions despite being promised they would dig trenches on second- and third-line defensive positions and lacking proper combat training.

The new commander

Major Volodymyr Fokin, 33, is a veteran who first became involved in Ukraine’s military struggles during the Euromaidan protests of 2013-2014. In 2015, he joined the National Guard’s Azov Regiment, serving until his demobilization in 2017.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Fokin returned to military service and took part in the defense of Kharkiv Oblast. He was appointed deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade in 2025 before assuming command of the 125th Heavy Mechanized Brigade.