{"id":18790,"date":"2023-03-21T19:44:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T18:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?post_type=unit&#038;p=18790"},"modified":"2026-05-23T13:12:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:12:12","slug":"253rd-territorial-defense-battalion","status":"publish","type":"unit","link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/253rd-territorial-defense-battalion\/","title":{"rendered":"253-\u0439 \u0448\u0442\u0443\u0440\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0439 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u043a"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The 253rd Assault Regiment &#8220;Arey&#8221; is unit of the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/assault-troops\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"64242\">\u0428\u0442\u0443\u0440\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0430 \u043f\u0456\u0445\u043e\u0442\u0430<\/a> of the Ukranian <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/tag\/ground-forces\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1143\">\u0421\u0443\u0445\u043e\u043f\u0443\u0442\u043d\u0456 \u0432\u0456\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430<\/a>.<br>, also known as Battalion Arey of Ukrainian Volunteer Army, is a separate battalion under the command of 129th Territorial Defense Brigade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The unit was formed in February 2022 as the Separate Tactical Group &#8220;Arey&#8221;, by veterans detachments that fought in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts during the early months of the full-scale invasion.<br>The tactical group was later expanded and reorganized as the 7th Battalion Arey of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, initially subordinated to the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/ukraine\/%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%bb%d0%b8-%d1%82%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%be%d1%80%d1%96%d0%b0%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%bd%d0%be%d1%97-%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d1%80%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b8\/129th-territorial-defense-battalion\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"37284\">129-\u0442\u0430 \u0431\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430 \u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0456\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0457 \u043e\u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/a> \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0440\u043e\u0437\u0448\u0438\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/ukraine\/%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%bb%d0%b8-%d1%82%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%be%d1%80%d1%96%d0%b0%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%bd%d0%be%d1%97-%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d1%80%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b8\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"11759\">\u0421\u0438\u043b\u0438 \u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0456\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0457 \u043e\u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While officially designated the 253rd Territorial Defense Battalion, the unit commonly used its Ukrainian Volunteer Army designation, until on the 12th of February 2024, was reformed into a separate assault battalion of the Ground Forces. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 253rd Assault Battalion became one of the first units to <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/news\/24th-brigade-forms-kharakternyky-battalion\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/news\/24th-brigade-forms-kharakternyky-battalion\/\">accept former inmates into their ranks<\/a>, and in late 2025 was reassigned under the newly established Assault Troops branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the first day of 2026 the unit announced on social media to have been expanded to regimental size, becoming the 253rd Assault Regiment &#8220;Arey&#8221;.<br>The regiment received many former servicemen and integrated the disbanded 2nd International Legion, <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/article\/viribus-unitis-2nd-international-legion-reassigned-to-assault-forces\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/article\/viribus-unitis-2nd-international-legion-reassigned-to-assault-forces\/\">marking the final stage in the Legion\u2019s transition into the newly formed Assault Forces<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 253rd Assault Regiment &#8220;Arey&#8221; is unit of the Assault Troops of the Ukranian Ground Forces., also known as Battalion Arey of Ukrainian Volunteer Army, is a separate battalion under the command of 129th Territorial Defense Brigade. The unit was formed in February 2022 as the Separate Tactical Group &#8220;Arey&#8221;, by veterans detachments that fought&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":81262,"parent":11750,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"unit_tag":[],"class_list":["post-18790","unit","type-unit","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/660773425_122116047849231259_7822098298480094707_n-1024x593.jpg",1024,593,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Jerome Rendall","author_link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/author\/ml_admin\/"},"comment_info":"","related_losses":false,"related_posts":[{"ID":34050,"post_title":"24th Brigade forms Kharakternyky Battalion","post_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has established a separate battalion composed of former inmates who have volunteered to join the defense of Ukraine. The newly formed battalion, named Kharakternyky, will soon be deployed to the area of operations.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In addition to the 24th Mechanized Brigade, the following units are known to accept former inmates into their ranks:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>1st Assault Battalion Da Vinci <\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>3rd Assault Brigade - convicts are included into regular units<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>5th Assault Brigade - a separate battalion<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>28th Mechanized Brigade<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>92nd Assault Brigade<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>153rd Mechanized Brigade <\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>253rd Assault Battalion Arey<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The number of inmates accepted varies across units. The 5th Assault Brigade plans to form a battalion of 600\u2013800 soldiers, nearly twice the size of the convicts' battalion in the 24th Mechanized Brigade. Other units plan to form only company-sized elements or integrate the inmates into regular units.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/rowlayout {\"uniqueID\":\"34050_f7d8c6-47\",\"colLayout\":\"equal\",\"firstColumnWidth\":0,\"secondColumnWidth\":0,\"thirdColumnWidth\":0,\"fourthColumnWidth\":0,\"fifthColumnWidth\":0,\"sixthColumnWidth\":0,\"kbVersion\":2} -->\n<!-- wp:kadence\/column {\"borderWidth\":[\"\",\"\",\"\",\"\"],\"uniqueID\":\"34050_77d3a4-c2\",\"kbVersion\":2} -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34050_77d3a4-c2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><!-- wp:image {\"id\":34055,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/521443-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34055\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">former inmates in Arey Battalion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image --><\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/column -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/column {\"id\":2,\"borderWidth\":[\"\",\"\",\"\",\"\"],\"uniqueID\":\"34050_b44de6-ed\",\"kbVersion\":2} -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34050_b44de6-ed\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><!-- wp:image {\"id\":34058,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/450335613-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34058\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">former inmates, now soldiers of 24th Brigade, take the oath of allegience to the Ukrainain people<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image --><\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/column -->\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/rowlayout -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Many of these inmates are Ukrainian patriots with combat experience who, after returning from the war, struggled to reintegrate into civilian life and committed crimes. They now have a second chance thanks to a law that allows inmates to join the army. Approximately 20,000 inmates could potentially be eligible for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Justice, over 5,000 inmates have already applied.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","post_excerpt":"The army accepts first inmates who volunteered to defend Ukraine.","post_author":"1","post_date":"2024-07-10 22:53:13","post_date_gmt":"2024-07-10 21:53:13","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"24th-brigade-forms-kharakternyky-battalion","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-08-09 22:45:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-08-09 20:45:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=34050","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"6","comments":[{"comment_ID":"14630","comment_post_ID":"34050","comment_author":"Richard","comment_author_email":"nobody@nowhere.com","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"2600:4808:40b5:8001:3eb:2769:770a:6be1","comment_date":"2024-07-15 08:15:24","comment_date_gmt":"2024-07-15 07:15:24","comment_content":"April Huggin isnt exactly a great source. I would wait for confirmation from someone else","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/126.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"14608","user_id":"0","pod_item_id":"14630"},{"comment_ID":"14613","comment_post_ID":"34050","comment_author":"Jerome Rendall","comment_author_email":"info@militaryland.net","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"94.112.33.166","comment_date":"2024-07-11 20:29:03","comment_date_gmt":"2024-07-11 19:29:03","comment_content":"As noted by Bergen, 1st Assault Battalion still exist.","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:128.0) Gecko\/20100101 Firefox\/128.0","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"14609","user_id":"1","pod_item_id":"14613"},{"comment_ID":"14611","comment_post_ID":"34050","comment_author":"ArtemFox","comment_author_email":"foxlake19@gmail.com","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"46.133.148.105","comment_date":"2024-07-11 19:17:55","comment_date_gmt":"2024-07-11 18:17:55","comment_content":"92 assault brigade also have separate battalion of the former inmates","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/126.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"0","user_id":"3856","pod_item_id":"14611"},{"comment_ID":"14610","comment_post_ID":"34050","comment_author":"Bergen","comment_author_email":"evgomel@gmail.com","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"194.183.191.159","comment_date":"2024-07-11 12:32:18","comment_date_gmt":"2024-07-11 11:32:18","comment_content":"108th Separate Mechanized Battalion formed from the split away group of the 1st Assault Battalion 67 Brigade mainly consisting of Honor movement soldiers and the medical unit \u201cUlf\u201d. <span>1st Assault Battalion leave 67 Brigade and become 1st Separate Assault Battalion.<span class=\"ql-cursor\">\ufeff<\/span><\/span>","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/126.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"14609","user_id":"3780","pod_item_id":"14610"},{"comment_ID":"14609","comment_post_ID":"34050","comment_author":"Knight","comment_author_email":"intsolcorp@gmail.com","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"212.90.60.240","comment_date":"2024-07-11 10:45:33","comment_date_gmt":"2024-07-11 09:45:33","comment_content":"Da Vinci is not a 1st Assault anymore. It's a 108th Separate Mechanized Battalion now.","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/126.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"0","user_id":"0","pod_item_id":"14609"},{"comment_ID":"14608","comment_post_ID":"34050","comment_author":"FIsken","comment_author_email":"fisken089@gmail.com","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"94.255.128.217","comment_date":"2024-07-11 01:23:11","comment_date_gmt":"2024-07-11 00:23:11","comment_content":"225th Assault Battalion, 93rd mechanized brigade (separate battalion) and 92nd assault brigade (separate battalion) are also recruiting prisoners \r\nhttps:\/\/t.me\/DeepStateUA\/19862 https:\/\/x.com\/DefactoHumanity\/status\/1808944812692758588 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=DCFxo744Thc","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/126.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"0","user_id":"3055","pod_item_id":"14608"}],"_thumbnail_id":["34051","1","2024-07-10 20:08:40","2024-07-10 19:08:40","24th Mechanized Brigade","news_24brigadebat","","inherit","open","closed","","news_24brigadebat","","","2024-07-10 20:19:17","2024-07-10 19:19:17","","34050","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/news_24brigadebat.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","34051"],"category":[{"term_id":"3","name":"\u041d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438","slug":"news","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"3","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"1063","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"3"},{"term_id":"4","name":"\u041e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0456","slug":"units","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"4","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"391","object_id":"85393","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"4"}],"post_tag":[{"term_id":"1142","name":"\u0410\u0440\u043c\u0456\u044f","slug":"army","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1142","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"298","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1142"}],"post_format":false,"id":34050},{"ID":75492,"post_title":"Ukrainian Volunteer Unit Arey Grows from Battalion to Regiment","post_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The 253rd Separate Assault Battalion \"Arey\" of Ukraine's Ground Forces has been officially expanded to regimental size, the unit announced on social media.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\"It's official! From today, the separate assault battalion 'AREY' begins a new milestone in its glorious history,\" the announcement read. \"By the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 253rd separate assault battalion 'AREY' will be transformed into the 253rd separate assault regiment 'AREY'.\"<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The expansion marks the latest chapter in the unit's evolution since its formation in 2022. Originally established as the 7th Battalion Arey of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, the unit was initially subordinated to the 129th Territorial Defense Brigade. It was built from volunteer detachments that fought in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts during the early months of the full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>While officially designated the 253rd Territorial Defense Battalion, the unit commonly used its Ukrainian Volunteer Army designation. In 2024, it underwent its first reorganization, becoming the 253rd Assault Battalion. With the establishment of Ukraine's Assault Troops branch, the battalion was reassigned under direct Assault Troops command.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"1","post_date":"2026-01-02 13:40:02","post_date_gmt":"2026-01-02 12:40:02","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ukrainian-volunteer-unit-arey-grows-from-battalion-to-regiment","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-01-02 13:40:02","post_modified_gmt":"2026-01-02 12:40:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=75492","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","comments":[{"comment_ID":"15793","comment_post_ID":"75492","comment_author":"Ukie Student","comment_author_email":"vstidm@proton.me","comment_author_url":"","comment_author_IP":"176.100.24.10","comment_date":"2026-01-02 16:51:04","comment_date_gmt":"2026-01-02 15:51:04","comment_content":"Why the hell is high command expanding units while struggling to fill already existing ones? \r\n\r\nI really hope there is some rational explanation, but I can't find any. \r\n\r\nIMO high command should start disbanding shit units first to free up manpower before creating new ones.","comment_karma":"0","comment_approved":"1","comment_agent":"Mozilla\/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit\/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome\/143.0.0.0 Safari\/537.36 Edg\/143.0.0.0","comment_type":"comment","comment_parent":"0","user_id":"0","pod_item_id":"15793"}],"_thumbnail_id":["75502","1","2026-01-02 13:39:20","2026-01-02 12:39:20","","news_arey_regiment","","inherit","open","closed","","news_arey_regiment","","","2026-01-02 13:39:20","2026-01-02 12:39:20","","75492","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/news_arey_regiment.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","75502"],"category":[{"term_id":"3","name":"\u041d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438","slug":"news","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"3","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"1063","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"3"},{"term_id":"4","name":"\u041e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0456","slug":"units","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"4","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"391","object_id":"85393","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"4"}],"post_tag":[{"term_id":"1142","name":"\u0410\u0440\u043c\u0456\u044f","slug":"army","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1142","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"298","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1142"},{"term_id":"1150","name":"\u041d\u0430\u043f\u0430\u0434","slug":"assault","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1150","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"15","object_id":"81971","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1150"},{"term_id":"1162","name":"\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0448\u0438\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f","slug":"expansion","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1162","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"9","object_id":"77891","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1162"},{"term_id":"1143","name":"\u0421\u0443\u0445\u043e\u043f\u0443\u0442\u043d\u0456 \u0432\u0456\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430","slug":"ground-forces","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1143","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"63","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1143"},{"term_id":"1211","name":"uda","slug":"uda","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1211","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"1","object_id":"75492","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1211"},{"term_id":"1157","name":"\u0443\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0430","slug":"ukraine","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1157","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"102","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1157"},{"term_id":"1170","name":"\u0414\u043e\u0431\u0440\u043e\u0432\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0446\u044c","slug":"volunteer","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1170","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"4","object_id":"75492","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1170"}],"post_format":false,"id":75492},{"ID":78128,"post_title":"Viribus Unitis: 2nd International Legion Reassigned to Assault Forces","post_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The restructuring of all battalions previously under the umbrella of the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/international-legion\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"11763\">International Legion<\/a> subordinated to the Ukrainian Ground Forces, has been completed. The final battalion, namely the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/2-international-legion\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"18786\">2nd International Legion<\/a>, has officially been integrated into the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/253rd-territorial-defense-battalion\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"18790\">253rd Assault Regiment<\/a>, marking the final stage in the Legion's transition into the newly formed Assault Forces.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/advancedheading {\"uniqueID\":\"78128_0912bc-8b\",\"markBorder\":\"\",\"markBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}],\"tabletMarkBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}],\"mobileMarkBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}]} -->\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading78128_0912bc-8b wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78128_0912bc-8b\">Opposition to Disbandment<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/advancedheading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The 2nd International Legion, being the last unit to be disbanded, was also the most vocal of the four battalions in opposing the disbandment process. In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pravda.com.ua\/articles\/2025\/12\/09\/8010990\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pravda.com.ua\/articles\/2025\/12\/09\/8010990\/\">interview with <em>Ukrainska Pravda<\/em><\/a>, Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Spivak, the battalion's deputy commander argued - that the unit was experimenting with light infantry tactics combined with drone operations, a concept approved by the then Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/commanders\/mykhailo-drapatyi\/\" data-type=\"commander\" data-id=\"72672\">Mykhailo Drapatyi<\/a>, in January 2025.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\"<em>We are the only military unit in the Armed Forces that is testing changes in the tactics of light infantry operations \u2013 that is, the bread and salt of the entire army. We are working on an organic combination of drones and infantry operations.<\/em>\"<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\"<em>The concept was approved by the commander of the Ground Forces, Drapatiy, in January of this year. Under this concept, we developed programs, spent money, and engaged the best instructors of the Ground Forces at the training grounds \u2013 to train both infantry and UAV crews. And since May, we have begun testing this tactic at the front: first in the Pokrovsky direction, now in a different, but no less hot, direction.<\/em>\"<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Additionally, he raised concerns that the battalion, and the Ukrainian Defense Forces in general, risked losing foreign volunteers, due to the negative impacts of the recruitment process becoming more complicated for foreign applicants.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/image {\"align\":\"center\",\"id\":79570,\"sizeSlug\":\"medium_large\",\"link\":\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_image_1.webp\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\",\"uniqueID\":\"78128_81b312-9c\"} -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image78128_81b312-9c\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_image_1.webp\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_image_1-768x358.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-79570\"\/><\/a><figcaption><em>Fighters of the former 2nd International Legion of the Ukrainian Ground Forces undergoing small arms training, September 25, 2025.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>While Spivak's concerns highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the liquidation of his battalion, many of these arguments are questionable. The integration of light infantry and drone tactics for military operations has been a concept widely explored since the first year of the full-scale invasion, used in many roles. Additionally, many units have scaled far beyond anything that the battalion could handle itself, and has seen far more success and utilization on the frontline for many years.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The potential impact on foreign recruitment however remains more of a valid concern, as the International Legion was long recognized as an entry point for foreign volunteers, even though an increasing number of highly-experienced, well-renowned units have opened up recruitment to foreigners in recent years. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As the year came to a close, the battalion was formally disbanded on <strong>December 31, 2025<\/strong>, along with the rest of the International Legion under the Ukrainian Ground Forces, beginning its transition into new formations.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/advancedheading {\"uniqueID\":\"78128_7e884e-2b\",\"markBorder\":\"\",\"markBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}],\"tabletMarkBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}],\"mobileMarkBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}]} -->\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading78128_7e884e-2b wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78128_7e884e-2b\">Transition into Assault Forces<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/advancedheading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Confirmation of the battalion's reassignment first emerged on February 10, 2026, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/i-ua.tv\/news\/94307-v-ukraini-ne-vidbulosia-i-ne-vidbuvaietsia-likvidatsiia-internatsionalnykh-pidrozdiliv-myroshnychenko\">report <\/a>based on information given by Ruslan Myroshnychenko, founder and former commander of the 2nd International Legion, stated that the unit had been integrated into the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/253rd-territorial-defense-battalion\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"18790\">253rd Assault Regiment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This development contradicted earlier assumptions that the battalion would be possibly reassigned to the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/475th-assault-regiment\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"41304\">475th Assault Regiment<\/a>, like the two other battalions inside of the Legion's umbrella. This was due to the fact that only a limited number of foreign volunteers from these battalions had transferred, with <a href=\"https:\/\/zn.ua\/ukr\/war\/ne-treba-rozvaljuvati-te-shcho-pratsjuje-internatsionalnij-lehion.html\">estimates suggesting<\/a> that just 10 to 20% of personnel from either unit completed the transition, with the rest abandoning their contracts to join other units, or leave the country entirely.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The integration of the battalion with the 253rd Assault Regiment, which traces its origins to the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/volunteer-army\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"11761\">Ukrainian Volunteer Army<\/a>, is a unique one. The Ukrainian Volunteer Army emerged from the former founder of Right Sector and the <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ukraine\/ukrainian-volunteer-corps\/\" data-type=\"unit\" data-id=\"31864\">Ukrainian Volunteer Corps<\/a>, which housed very small numbers of foreigners since the beginning of hostilities in Donbas in 2014. The arrival of these foreigners into the unit is rather an unusual, but welcoming change within the structure.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/image {\"align\":\"center\",\"id\":79579,\"sizeSlug\":\"medium_large\",\"link\":\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/644817701_122111588913231259_4327744859424382331_n.jpg\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\",\"uniqueID\":\"78128_17ed38-b1\"} -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image78128_17ed38-b1\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/644817701_122111588913231259_4327744859424382331_n.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/644817701_122111588913231259_4327744859424382331_n-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-79579\"\/><\/a><figcaption><em>Newly integrated volunteers, one from Argentina, formerly part of the 2nd International Legion, now in the ranks of the 253rd Assault Regiment, February 14, 2026.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Structurally, the battalion remains as an infantry formation within the regiment. It is formally designated as the <strong>3rd Infantry Battalion<\/strong>, but informally known as the <strong>International Legion Infantry Battalion<\/strong> as part of the regiment. The battalion will be responsible for securing newly captured ground and maintaining control of the line, whereas assault units are responsible for storming and advancing on enemy positions. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Additionally, with the battalion being integrated into the regiment, a new commander has also been assigned to replace the former battalion commander, Major <a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/commanders\/oleksandr-yakymovych\/\" data-type=\"commander\" data-id=\"51834\">Oleksandr Yakymovych<\/a>. The new commander, Mykhola Velykyi, has an extensive career which began at the onset of violence in eastern Ukraine in 2014.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/image {\"align\":\"center\",\"id\":79576,\"sizeSlug\":\"medium_large\",\"link\":\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_image_3.webp\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\",\"uniqueID\":\"78128_5d4743-c4\"} -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image78128_5d4743-c4\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_image_3.webp\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img src=\"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_image_3-768x358.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-79576\"\/><\/a><figcaption><em>Mykhola Velykyi, the new commander of the International Battalion of the 253rd Assault Regiment.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0YRMd5UtZboqVLMD3vN6ay9zv2zog55wRQ2XZ4HGpG4FTAzS3J6tXUTiejtToRQ2ql&amp;id=61586937784649\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0YRMd5UtZboqVLMD3vN6ay9zv2zog55wRQ2XZ4HGpG4FTAzS3J6tXUTiejtToRQ2ql&amp;id=61586937784649\">post <\/a>on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61586937784649\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61586937784649\">official Facebook channel<\/a> of the 253rd Assault Regiment, it also outlined how many soldiers had received misinformation, with a Spanish-speaking volunteer stating that he and many others had been told they were merging into the ranks of \"jackals and bandits\", which caused concern among several foreign fighters, many of whom had previous experience in law enforcement in their home countries. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>However, after speaking directly with the regiment's leadership, the soldiers ultimately chose to remain with the unit and continue serving. The effectiveness of the integration of this battalion into the 253rd Assault Regiment will be visible within the next few months, with the same post by the unit on Facebook stating the fighters of the battalion are returning to Kharkiv Oblast to carry out combat operations to protect Ukraine.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:kadence\/advancedheading {\"uniqueID\":\"78128_ee3640-34\",\"markBorder\":\"\",\"markBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}],\"tabletMarkBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}],\"mobileMarkBorderStyles\":[{\"top\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"right\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"bottom\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"left\":[null,\"\",\"\"],\"unit\":\"px\"}]} -->\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading78128_ee3640-34 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78128_ee3640-34\">A New Role for the International Legionnaires<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:kadence\/advancedheading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>While opinions continue to remain divided over the disbandment of the International Legion, the decision to integrate its personnel into established assault units rather then disperse them entirely appears to be a practical compromise; allowing them to continue their existence under a new unit, continuing their motivations to defend Ukraine while also retaining volunteers, and improving cohesion.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Units such as the 253rd and 475th Assault Regiments have already demonstrated their combat effectiveness over their existence, which paved the way for them both being expanded into larger formations - and now suitable options for foreign volunteer battalions to be reassigned to. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p> In the long term, the integration of foreign formations into permanent structures may help to ensure that foreign fighters remain a valuable component of Ukraine's defense efforts, without undermining recruitment, however, also enabling and maximizing their effectiveness with stronger command structures and improved fire support.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"3620","post_date":"2026-03-15 21:27:47","post_date_gmt":"2026-03-15 20:27:47","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"viribus-unitis-2nd-international-legion-reassigned-to-assault-forces","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-15 22:49:41","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-15 21:49:41","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=78128","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["79503","3620","2026-03-11 15:28:43","2026-03-11 14:28:43","","h_2nd_legion_reassigned","","inherit","open","closed","","h_2nd_legion_reassigned","","","2026-03-11 15:28:43","2026-03-11 14:28:43","","78128","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/h_2nd_legion_reassigned.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","79503"],"category":[{"term_id":"698","name":"\u041f\u0443\u0431\u043b\u0456\u043a\u0430\u0446\u0456\u044f","slug":"article","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"698","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"51","object_id":"85393","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"698"},{"term_id":"4","name":"\u041e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0456","slug":"units","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"4","taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":"0","count":"391","object_id":"85393","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"4"}],"post_tag":[{"term_id":"1150","name":"\u041d\u0430\u043f\u0430\u0434","slug":"assault","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1150","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"15","object_id":"81971","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1150"},{"term_id":"1178","name":"\u041a\u043e\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0438\u0440","slug":"commander","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1178","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"19","object_id":"82851","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1178"},{"term_id":"1149","name":"\u041c\u0456\u043d\u0456\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e \u0432\u043d\u0443\u0442\u0440\u0456\u0448\u043d\u0456\u0445 \u0441\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432","slug":"ministry-of-internal-affairs","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1149","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"16","object_id":"81632","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1149"},{"term_id":"1148","name":"\u043d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0430 \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0456\u044f","slug":"national-guard","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1148","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"19","object_id":"81632","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1148"},{"term_id":"1152","name":"\u041d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0439 \u043f\u0456\u0434\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0456\u043b","slug":"new-unit","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1152","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"21","object_id":"81480","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1152"},{"term_id":"1157","name":"\u0443\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0430","slug":"ukraine","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1157","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"102","object_id":"85345","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1157"}],"post_format":false,"id":78128}],"unit_equipment_previous":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/18790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/unit"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/18790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85230,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/18790\/revisions\/85230"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/11750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"unit_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit_tag?post=18790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}