253rd Assault Regiment

The 253rd Assault Regiment “Arey” 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 “Arey”, by veterans detachments that fought in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts during the early months of the full-scale invasion.
The tactical group was later expanded and reorganized as the 7th Battalion Arey of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, initially subordinated to the 129th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces.

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.

The 253rd Assault Battalion became one of the first units to accept former inmates into their ranks, and in late 2025 was reassigned under the newly established Assault Troops branch.

On the first day of 2026 the unit announced on social media to have been expanded to regimental size, becoming the 253rd Assault Regiment “Arey”.
The regiment received many former servicemen and integrated the disbanded 2nd International Legion, marking the final stage in the Legion’s transition into the newly formed Assault Forces.