{"id":43416,"date":"2025-03-06T21:42:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T20:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?post_type=unit&p=43416"},"modified":"2026-04-12T13:15:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T11:15:18","slug":"spanish-storm-battalion","status":"publish","type":"unit","link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/ukraine\/armed-forces\/3rd-assault-brigade\/spanish-storm-battalion\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0406\u0441\u043f\u0430\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430 \u0448\u0442\u0443\u0440\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0430 \u0440\u043e\u0442\u0430"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u0406\u0441\u043f\u0430\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430 \u0448\u0442\u0443\u0440\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0430 \u0440\u043e\u0442\u0430<\/strong>, \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0436 \u0432\u0456\u0434\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u043a Tormenta Hispana<\/strong> \u0432 \u0456\u0441\u043f\u0430\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0456\u0439 \u043c\u043e\u0432\u0456 - \u043b\u0456\u043d\u0456\u0439\u043d\u0430 \u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0446\u044f \u0432\u0438\u043c\u0456\u0440\u044e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044f 1-\u0439 \u0406\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u043e\u043d\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0456\u043b\u0435\u0446\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0431\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d<\/a> \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0440\u043e\u0437\u0448\u0438\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f 3-\u044f \u0448\u0442\u0443\u0440\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0430 \u0431\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0420\u043e\u0442\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0444\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0443\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0438\u0441\u044f \u0449\u043e\u043d\u0430\u0439\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0448\u0435 \u0437 \u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u043d\u044f 2024 \u0440\u043e\u043a\u0443 \u0437 \u043c\u0435\u0442\u043e\u044e \u0437\u0430\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0434\u043e \u0441\u043a\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0443 \u0431\u0440\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0434\u0438 \u0456\u0441\u043f\u0430\u043d\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0438\u0445 \u043e\u0441\u0456\u0431 \u0437 \u041b\u0430\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0457 \u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0438 \u0456 \u0454 \u0442\u0440\u0435\u0442\u044c\u043e\u044e \u043b\u0456\u043d\u0456\u0439\u043d\u043e\u044e \u0440\u043e\u0442\u043e\u044e \u0431\u0430\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0439\u043e\u043d\u0443.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spanish Storm Company, also known as Tormenta Hispana in Spanish, is a linear unit of the 1st Rifleman International Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade. The company began forming since at least September 2024 to accommodate Spanish-speaking individuals from Latin America into the brigade, and is the third linear company of the battalion.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3620,"featured_media":43510,"parent":16214,"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-43416","unit","type-unit","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/spanish-storm-fi-2-1024x457.webp",1024,457,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"David Pipe","author_link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/author\/davomme\/"},"comment_info":"","related_losses":false,"related_posts":[{"ID":43583,"post_title":"3rd Assault Brigade forms International Battalions","post_content":"\n

Since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has seen a significant influx of foreign volunteers joining various branches of its military. The first major organized unit, the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine<\/a>, has played a key role throughout the war - helping to participate in the Kharkiv counteroffensive and the defense of Bakhmut. Other foreign volunteer units have been formed under the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, such as the International Legion Defense Intelligence of Ukraine<\/a>. Existing brigades have also made an effort to make specific units oriented around foreigners, becoming part of Ukraine's broader effort to recruit more fighters to defend the nation against Russia's unprovoked invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Foreign volunteers of the 2nd International Legion of Ukraine during close-quarter battle training.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Recently, several well-known units have begun forming dedicated international battalions, providing a more structured and official framework for foreign volunteers. On December 23, 2024, we were the first to report<\/a> that the 12th Special Purpose Brigade \"Azov\"<\/a> of the Ukrainian National Guard had restructured its 3rd Special Purpose Battalion<\/a>, and had begun incorporating foreign volunteers - officially forming the 3rd International Battalion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Instructor and volunteers of the 3rd International Battalion of \"Azov\" undergoing small arms training.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a similar approach, the 3rd Assault Brigade<\/a> has formed two international battalions to help better integrate foreigners into its ranks. Foreigners, notably Canadians, have previously served in the ranks of the 3rd Assault Brigade, with it known that they have served in its 2nd Assault Battalion, 2nd Assault Company - according to the International Legion's YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Telegram <\/a>on January 6, 2025, affiliates with the International Legion announced that the 3rd Assault Brigade had begun to accept individuals who only spoke Portuguese; no English or Spanish was required as outlined in the post. It also exclaimed that the unit's NCO core had significant combat experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 27, 2025, our contributors had discovered that, according to a fighter of the brigade on X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>, that an International Battalion<\/a> had indeed been formed and that different languages were to be separated to improve cohesion amongst fighters. Not much is known regarding the battalion, with it still not having received an insignia or any official confirmation by the brigade's media about its existence, however, it has been confirmed by several foreign volunteers and it is expected to be composed predominantly of English and Portuguese-speaking individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late February 2025, an image emerged of a new chevron belonging to the 3rd Assault Brigade, as well as a fighter of Spanish or Hispanic origin present in the photo with the insignia. Upon further investigation by our contributors, we discovered the creation of another international battalion by the brigade; with the unit being designated as \"Tormenta Hispana\" - translating to Spanish Storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Foreign fighter belonging to the newly formed \"Spanish Storm\" Battalion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The insignia features a modified Azov-style chevron in the colours of the brigade, with one side only at an angle. The central element of the insignia is a lightning bolt, symbolising the unit's proficiency in assault tactics. Above the insignia is a tab which bears the battalion's nickname: 'Tormenta Hispana'.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The origins of the Spanish Storm Battalion<\/a> can be traced back to September 26, 2024, in which it established several social media pages such as Facebook, TikTok, and even has its own website to recruit volunteers into the unit. Both international units are still undergoing formation in an attempt to become a formidable and sizeable formation within the brigade before it conducts combat operations. They will most likely be deployed within the first half of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Insignia of the \u201cSpanish Storm\u201d Battalion, redrawn by Davomme.<\/em>
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many foreign units such as the International Legion have been heavily criticized, especially after investigations conducted by the Kyiv Independent<\/em>. These investigations have become a series of articles slating the units<\/a> for sending volunteers on so-called \"suicide missions\", reporting alleged cases of abuse, as well as commanders physically threatening volunteers. Other articles by the Kyiv Independent further indicate<\/a> that Legionnaires report poor control over equipment and arms in battalions, drug and alcohol abuse, and keep around individuals with controversial or criminal backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the formation of foreign battalions within established brigades, particularly well-organized, well-led, and well-funded units like the 3rd Assault Brigade, appears promising - it remains to be seen whether lessons from past shortcomings, such as those highlighted by the Kyiv Independent<\/em>, will be addressed. Only time will tell whether these new formations will avoid the issues that have plagued earlier international units in previous years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_excerpt":"The brigade forms two international battalions.","post_author":"3620","post_date":"2025-03-09 21:29:38","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-09 20:29:38","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3rd-assault-brigade-forms-international-battalions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-08-09 22:44:12","post_modified_gmt":"2025-08-09 20:44:12","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=43583","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["43641","3620","2025-03-09 20:14:36","2025-03-09 19:14:36","","fi_3shturm_intlbat","","inherit","open","closed","","fi_3shturm_intlbat","","","2025-03-09 20:14:36","2025-03-09 19:14:36","","43583","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/fi_3shturm_intlbat.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","43641"],"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":"1059","object_id":"83787","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":"386","object_id":"83836","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":"296","object_id":"82851","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1142"}],"post_format":false,"id":43583},{"ID":58454,"post_title":"3rd Assault Brigade's International Battalion Revealed","post_content":"\n

Back in March 2025, MilitaryLand reported that Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade was forming two international units. It is one of the first brigades to create a dedicated international battalion alongside the Azov <\/a>and Khartia <\/a>in the Ukrainian National Guard, both of which were also reported by MilitaryLand.

We also reported<\/a> on the creation of Tempest Group, another group of foreigners inside the 3rd Assault Brigade under its Reconnaissance Battalion<\/a>, which was formed by former Chosen Company<\/a> fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Details about the battalion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the time, the first known unit was Spanish Storm<\/a>, which was initially referred to as a battalion by the unit itself. The unit seeks to recruit Spanish-speaking volunteers primarily from Colombia and other Latin American countries. The International Legion has since confirmed through their official Instagram page<\/a> that Spanish Storm is, in fact, the size of a company, stating that the International Rifle Battalion consists of English, Spanish, and Portuguese fighters. The unit is presumably the 3rd Rifle Company of the battalion, given the fact that the International Legion first announced the creation of an English and Portuguese company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was also reported that the brigade had formed another international unit, commonly referred to as the International Rifle Battalion<\/a>, now known as the 1st Rifleman International Battalion<\/strong>. It was first announced that it would include English and Portuguese-speaking volunteers by the International Legion. The Portuguese contingent, reported earlier by MilitaryLand<\/a>, became known as Serpent Company<\/a>, and presumably the 2nd Rifle Company. It is one of the few Portuguese-speaking formations, and is led by Anna Hrechishkina<\/a>, a Ukrainian with long-standing ties to Brazil due to her personal adventures before the full-scale invasion; many of its members were recruited from Latin America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent information has emerged, revealing more about the battalion's structure, performance, and its commanders. The English-speaking element was identified as the 1st Rifle Company, which was confirmed in a fundraiser video to fund pickup trucks. Verified accounts from foreign volunteers inside the battalion on the UkraineForeignLegion subreddit<\/a> have also confirmed that in recent months, the battalion has already been deployed. The battalion is also known to have an Anti-Aircraft Missile Platoon, confirmed by a fundraiser on Facebook by soldiers of the battalion. Additionally, the battalion has finally launched social media channels on Instagram and Facebook, which reveal that it has its own Unmanned Systems Strike Company - known as Valhalla Group and is commanded by an ethnic Ukrainian known as \"Maks\"<\/a> who previously served in the 1st Mechanized Battalion<\/a> of the brigade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Fighters of the 1st Rifle Company of the 1st Rifleman International Battalion, in an appeal to gather funds for pickup trucks to support the unit.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n


The battalion is commanded by Major Bohdan Korzhenko<\/a>, a veteran prior to the full-scale invasion and a former lawyer. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he answered the call by Andriy Biletskyi<\/a> for Ukrainians in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to help form the Azov Territorial Defense. He fought alongside the Azov Special Operations Regiment \"Kyiv\" and has since been a long-serving member of the 3rd Assault Brigade, rising to the rank of Major, and was revealed to be the commander of the battalion since at least mid-July 2025. Known by the call sign \"Adik\", he is a strong advocate for long-term national defense and vows to prepare for future conflicts in Ukraine and Europe alike. It is unknown when he was assigned to the battalion, but anonymous sources indicate he was only recently appointed, with the previous commander being replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battalion has also received its own unique insignia, which was redrawn by myself, Davomme, in high resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Insignia of the 1st Rifleman International Battalion, redrawn by Davomme.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The insignia retains the traditional Azov style pointed chevron, presented in a subdued color palette. It features the recognizable blue of the standard brigade emblem and the color grey, which is commonly associated with the brigade\u2019s linear battalions. At its center, the patch features an arrow symbolizing the unit\u2019s role as an assault formation, representing forward momentum and offensive action. Overlaying this is a reticle with a central dot, signifying precision and marksmanship, attributes typically associated with a dedicated rifle battalion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restructuring within the brigade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before the fall of Avdiivka, a fourth company began appearing in some of the brigade's linear battalions, and the two linear rifle battalions slowly became more inactive during and after the fall of the city. It can be presumed that the brigade deactivated these battalions and integrated the manpower across the rest of the brigade's battalions. Since then, it has been known that the 1st Rifle Battalion<\/a>, which is now defunct, was repurposed as the 1st Rifleman International Battalion, part of an effort to address manpower shortages by integrating foreign volunteers into its ranks, which many brigades have begun doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source:<\/strong> posts by verified users on the UkraineForeignLegion subreddit<\/a>, social channels of the 1st Rifle International Battalion fo 3rd Assault Brigade<\/a>, social channels of the International Legion<\/a>, and public fundraisers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"3620","post_date":"2025-08-11 22:54:13","post_date_gmt":"2025-08-11 20:54:13","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"3rd-assault-brigades-international-battalion-revealed","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-08-11 23:38:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-08-11 21:38:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=58454","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["60624","3620","2025-08-09 23:22:05","2025-08-09 21:22:05","","h_3rd_assault_new_intl_rifle_bat","","inherit","open","closed","","h_3rd_assault_new_intl_rifle_bat","","","2025-08-09 23:22:05","2025-08-09 21:22:05","","58454","https:\/\/militaryland.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/h_3rd_assault_new_intl_rifle_bat.webp","0","attachment","image\/webp","0","60624"],"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":"1059","object_id":"83787","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":"386","object_id":"83836","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":"296","object_id":"82851","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":"1147","name":"\u0410\u0437\u043e\u0432","slug":"azov","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1147","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"11","object_id":"81632","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1147"},{"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":"61","object_id":"82851","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1143"},{"term_id":"1151","name":"\u041c\u0456\u0436\u043d\u0430\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0439","slug":"international","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"1151","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"6","object_id":"75633","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1151"},{"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":"100","object_id":"82851","term_order":"0","pod_item_id":"1157"}],"post_format":false,"id":58454}],"unit_equipment_previous":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/43416","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\/3620"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/43416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82614,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/43416\/revisions\/82614"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/16214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"unit_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit_tag?post=43416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}