Azov originated from Biletsky’s national organization Patriot of Ukraine. Its members participated in EuroMaidan and many of them joined the volunteer battalion. The unit was also supported by members of Automaidan and ultras of FC Metalist Kharkiv. The unit was reformed into a regiment in late 2014 and received military equipment from the government of Ukraine, including T-64B1M tanks, D-30 artillery, and various LAVs. At the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, the regiment was stationed in Mariupol. In January 2023, the regiment was expanded and reformed into a brigade under the Offensive Guard program. It later became known the unit was expanded in favor of 12th Brigade of Operational Assignment, which ceased to exist.

Recent News

Azov Brigade expands strike UAV company to a battalion
October 28, 2024

The brigade’s strike UAV company has been restructured.

Lyubart joins National Guard’s Azov Brigade
February 15, 2024

The unit of Special Operations Forces returns to its Azov roots.

Ukraine creates Offensive Guard brigades
February 5, 2023

Both Ukrainian Army Corps report changes in its structure and 10th Army Corps has a new commander.

Units defending Mariupol
April 13, 2022

The list of Ukrainian units who have been heroically defending the besieged city of Mariupol for longer than 40 days and counting.

Structure

Here you can find the last known structure of the unit, including their insignia if available.

Brigade’s Headquarters

The unit includes the headquarters, management and commandant platoon.

1st Special Purpose Battalion

Linear unit | Yurivka, Donetsk Oblast

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2nd Special Purpose Battalion

Linear unit | Yurivka, Donetsk Oblast

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5th Special Purpose Battalion

Linear unit | Yurivka, Donetsk Oblast

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6th Special Purpose Battalion

Linear unit | Yurivka, Donetsk Oblast

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Unmanned Systems Battalion

Linear unit | Yurivka, Donetsk Oblast

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Tank Battalion

The linear tank battalion of the unit.

Artillery Group

The linear artillery group of the unit.

Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Battalion

The air defense battalion of the brigade.

Reconnaissance Company

The scouts of the unit.

CBRN Protection Company

Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence unit.

Medical Service

The medical company of the brigade.

pre-2022 structure

1st Special Purpose Battalion

1st Company

The company regularly attends training. Their history is unknown.

2nd Company

The second company.

3rd Company

The third company was deployed to Odesa in 2016. The unit has five platoons.

2nd Special Purpose Battalion

1st Company

Originally part of the Tank Battalion, but later reformed into a standalone unit and moved to the second battalion as first company. Defeated during the Battle of Mariupol in 2022.

2nd Company

The “Iron Hundred” led the offensive on Shyrokine and nearby areas. Many members are part of the Azov since 2014. Defeated during the Battle of Mariupol in 2022.

3rd Company

A formerly 4th company. The cadets underwent a special training and call themselves as “Spartans”.

Other combat units

Artillery Division

Division equipped with heavy D-30 artillery and 120mm mortars.

Tank Company

The company is equipped with T-64B1M tanks and recovery vehicles. Defeated during the Battle of Mariupol in 2022.

Equipment

Here, you can view the complete list of the unit’s equipment. All images of the vehicles and weapons below are sourced from the unit’s official social media page.

Current equipment

T-64BV mod.2022

Type:

MBT

| Amount: 2+

T-72B

Type:

MBT

| Amount: 2+

placeholder image

BMP-1TS

Type:

IFV

| Amount: 1+

IFV

​

BTR-4E

Type:

1+

| Amount:

BTR-3E1

Type:

APC

| Amount: 2+

XA-185

Type:

APC

| Amount: 1+

MTLB-U

Type:

APC

| Amount: 1+

MaxxPro

Type:

MRAP

| Amount:

​

BMC Kirpi

Type:

MRAP

| Amount: 6+

placeholder image

Novator

Type:

MRAP

| Amount: 1+

​

Novator-2

Type:

MRAP

| Amount: 1+

2S1 Gvozdika

Type:

Artillery

| Amount: 1+

M109L

Type:

SPG

| Amount: 2+

​

BM-21 Grad

Type:

MLRS

| Amount: 2+

TRF-1

Type:

SPG

| Amount: 2+

105/14 OTO Melara M-56

Type:

Artillerz

| Amount: 1+

Previous equipment

The regiment lost all of its equipment during the Battle of Mariupol in 2022.

T-64B1M

Type:

MBT

| Amount: 10

BTR-4

Type:

APC

| Amount: 1+

BTR-3E1

Type:

APC

| Amount: 5+

BTR-80

Type:

APC

| Amount: 1

BTR-70

Type:

APC

| Amount: 1

MT-LB

Type:

APC

| Amount: 2+

MT-LB-ZU-23

Type:

APC

| Amount: 5+

BTR-3M1

Type:

Artillery

| Amount: 3+

Varta

Type:

MRAP

| Amount: 2+

Kozak-2

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 5+

Kraz Shrek

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 2+

Kraz Spartan

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 5+

Kraz Spartan Sarmat

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 2+

Kraz Kobra

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 2+

Kraz Coughar

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 4+

BTR-152

Type:

LAV

| Amount: 1

BMM-4S

Type:

Medical

| Amount: 2+

BTS-4

Type:

Recovery vehicle

| Amount: 1+

Equipment Losses

# Vehicle Type Vehicle Number Date Location
ID_1 Novator March 16, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_17 T-64B1M 1-701 March 16, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_18 BTR-3E1 March 16, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_19 BTR-3E1 1-755 April 28, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_20 BTR-3E1 April 4, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_21 BTR-3M2 March 26, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_22 Kraz Shrek May 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_23 MT-LB ZU-23 April 5, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_24 T-64B1M 1-709 May 23, 2022
ID_25 BTR-3E1 May 22, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_26 BTR-4 1-716 May 10, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_27 T-64B1M 1-702 May 25, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_28 Kraz Spartan 1-756 May 10, 2022
ID_29 BTR-3M2 May 20, 2022
ID_30 BRDM-2 1-760 May 12, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_31 T-64B1M 1-704 April 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_32 T-64B1M 1-706 April 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_33 T-64B1M 1-70? April 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_34 Varta 1-738 April 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_35 T-64B1M 1-707 May 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_36 BTR-80 April 28, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_37 MT-LB Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_59 T-64B1M 1-700 May 1, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
ID_60 T-64B1M April 28, 2022
ID_89 T-64B1M 1-708 May 11, 2022 Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
We currently don’t have information about the unit’s insignia history. Please check back later.

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