3rd Assault Brigade

3rd Assault Brigade is a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

It was formed on the basis of the Azov Special Operations Regiment “Kyiv” branch, which had been created in the first hours of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was initially founded as part of the Azov Territorial Defense Command, later reformed as the Azov Special Operations Command, overseeing several branches across the country.

Its members consisted of Azov veterans, Centuria Movement and National Corps Members, and civilians who had trained as part of the ‘Don’t Panic, Get Ready!’ program.

In August 2022, many of the formations under the Azov Special Operations Command came together to form a new, separate brigade within the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The brigade began to recruit in November 2022 and finalized its formation in January 2023.

The unit has also participated in many key battles throughout the invasion. Notably, the defense of Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, airlifts to Mariupol, the battle of Kherson, the battle of Bakhmut, the battle of Avdiivka, and, more recently, fighting in Kharkiv and Luhansk Oblast.

On March 14, 2025, the 3rd Army Corps was created on the basis of the 3rd Assault Brigade. The commander Andriy Biletskiy moved to the commander of the corps.

3rd Assault Brigade is regarded as one of the best combat units and a leading example in the Ground Forces of Ukraine.

Insignia

The insignia is a pointed chevron, an echo of the original Azov Special Operations insignia, which continued the legacy of the Azov Unit, in dark blue and golden yellow color. The central imagery features a stylized Idea of the Nation symbol, depicted as three slashes. The symbol has been associated with military courage, and it reflects the brigade’s designation, as well as its commitment to Ukrainian nationalism and the defense of the country.