The first National Guard Corps

The very first corps formation within the National Guard is now a reality. On April 15, 2025, the Azov Brigade, along with several other National Guard units, officially announced the establishment of the new 1st “Azov” Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard, marking the creation of the Guard’s first operational corps.

The formation of a corps is based on the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” has been anticipated for many months. The Azov Brigade has been at the forefront of modernization and innovation within Ukraine’s Army, becoming one of the first units to adopt Western-standard tactics and training fully. Throughout the ongoing conflict, the brigade has continually integrated innovations and structural changes, enhancing its operational capabilities and positioning itself as a model for reform within the military.

The announcement of the new formation—designated as the 1st “Azov” Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard—outlined its structure, confirming that several brigades would be incorporated into the newly established corps, finally putting an end to speculation. Alongside the establishment of the new formation, the corps received a distinctive insignia. This emblem has been exclusively redrawn in high definition for MilitaryLand by Davomme.

The insignia retains the traditional Azov chevron design, featuring a uniquely styled hawk facing to the left. Within the body of the bird, a distinct Roman numeral “I” appears on the right side, symbolizing the corps’ designation. In the upper left corner of the chevron is a stylized Idea of the Nation symbol, reflecting both Azov’s ideological roots and its alignment with Ukrainian nationalism.

Alongside the formation of the new corps, Denys Prokopenko—known by his callsign “Redis” and former commander of the Azov Brigade—has officially taken command of the 1st “Azov” Corps. Consequently, leadership of the Azov Brigade has been handed over to Lt. Col. Bohdan Hryshenkov, callsign “Puhach.”

Hryshenkov began his service with the Azov Regiment in 2015, rising from soldier to Lieutenant Colonel. He fought in the defense of Mariupol, was wounded at Azovstal, and survived the Olenivka prison in 2022. His leadership roles progressed steadily, leading to his appointment as brigade commander in 2024.

Corps Structure

As previously noted, the units comprising the new corps were also officially announced. The following brigades are now part of the 1st “Azov” Corps:

Bureviy Brigade

3027

1 БрОП

Azov Brigade

3057

12 БрСпП «Азов»

Chervona Kalyna Brigade

3028

14 БрОП

Kara-Dag Brigade

3029

15 БрОП

Lyubart Brigade

???

20 БрОП

New National Guard Brigade

This restructuring also confirmed the expansion of the Lyubart, previously known as the 5th Special Purpose Battalion “Lyubart” within the Azov Brigade. The unit joined the brigade in February 2024, after being under the Ukrainian Special Operation Forces, with Albin joining them later that year. Now, it has been officially upgraded to a brigade under the designation 20th Brigade of Operational Assignment “Lyubart” complete with its own, unique insignia.

The insignia retains the signature Azov-style chevron, which the brigade originally adopted when it became part of the Azov Brigade. While it keeps key design elements, such as the skull, the overall appearance has been significantly revamped. Notably, the distinctive “Lyubart” title has been removed from the top of the insignia, and the colour scheme now features a dark green and light cream border.

Following this information, it can now be reasonably assumed that the corps formed based on the Khartia Brigade, previously reported by us on March 15, 2025, is designated as the 2nd “Khartia” Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard. While the full structure of this newly established corps has not yet been publicly detailed, it is expected to include the remaining combat brigade of the National Guard.

As the first fully developed formation of its kind, the 1st “Azov” Corps is expected to serve as a model for future corps-level structures within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Its organization, integration of modern tactics, and operational flexibility may set the standard for units to come. With more corps likely to be announced in the coming weeks, we will continue to provide updates and analysis as these developments unfold.