Spartan Brigade

Full name: 3rd Brigade of Operational Assignment named after Colonel Petro Bolbochan

Active:

June 11, 2014 –

Garrison:

Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast

Size:

1500 - 5000 servicemen

Motto:

The Enemy Breaks Against Us

Unit Role:

Operational Units

Website Facebook Instagram X YouTube Telegram TikTok

About Unit

Spartan Brigade is a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard.

It was initially formed at the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in June 2014. The staffing of the brigade was fully complete by October of the same year.

In the winter of 2015, the brigade began its first combat operation near Debaltseve, Donetsk Oblast, and later would deploy to areas of Krymske near Mariupol and Popasna.

The following year, in June 2016, the brigade began to man second-line positions in Luhansk Oblast.

On October 14, 2020, by decree of the President of Ukraine, the brigade was given the honorary name Colonel Petro Bolbochan.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the unit participated heavily in the defense of Kharkiv Oblast and Kharkiv city, defending three of the city’s exits. The brigade also helped to liberate the settlements of Mala Rohan, Tsyrkuny, and Kutuzivka.

On July 27, 2022, by decree of the President of Ukraine, the brigade received the Award For Courage and Bravery from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the Kharkiv offensive in late 2022, the brigade fought in Slatyne, Kozacha Lopan, and Dementiivka, seeing heavy success.

Between January and February 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated the Offensive Guard Program, and the brigade became part of the program, being nicknamed the Spartan Brigade.

In April 2025, the brigade joined the 2nd Khartia Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard.

Insignia

The insignia displays a stylized chevron with a dark green canvas and light green border. The top of the insignia displays the inscriptions of the brigade name, rendered in an angular, stylized font. Below is a large, stylized Tryzub, depicted in a geometric, elongated form, with sharp, symmetrical lines, forming a sword peak at the top, and a small diamond at its base.

06/2014
  • 3rd Operational Brigade

formation of the unit

Col. Oleksii Khilchenko

Unit Commander

Current Structure

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

Unit Headquarters

It includes the headquarters, management and commandant platoon.

1st Operational Battalion

The first linear Operational Battalion of Assignment of the Brigade.

Instagram
Show Subordinated Units

1st Operational Company

The first linear Operational Company of Assignment of the Battalion.

Aerial Reconnaissance Platoon

The Aerial Reconnaissance Platoon of the Battalion.

2nd Operational Battalion “Aspis”

The second linear Operational Battalion of Assignment of the Brigade. It bears the nickname “Aspis”.

Show Subordinated Units

3rd Operational Battalion “Smurfy”

The third linear Operational Battalion of Assignment of the Brigade. It bears the nickname “Smurfy”.

Show Subordinated Units

2nd Operational Company

The second linear Operational Company of Assignment of the Battalion.

Signals Platoon

The Signals Platoon of the Battalion.

4th Operational Battalion “Fenrir”

The fourth linear Operational Battalion of Assignment of the Brigade. It bears the nickname “Fenrir”.

Show Subordinated Units

Tank Company

The linear tank company of the unit.

Show Subordinated Units

Unmanned Systems Battalion “Black Sky”

The Unmanned Systems Battalion of the Brigade. It bears the nickname “Black Sky”.

Show Subordinated Units

Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion

The air defense battalion of the unit.

Show Subordinated Units

Artillery Group

The Artillery Group of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

1st Howitzer Artillery Battalion

The first Artillery Battalion of the Brigade Artillery Group.

2nd Artillery Battalion

The second linear Artillery Battalion of the Brigade Artillery Group.

3rd Artillery Battalion

The third linear Artillery Battalion of the Brigade Artillery Group.

Special Purpose Reconnaissance Company

The Special Purpose Reconnaissance Company of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Engineering Company

The engineering company of the brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Support Battalion

The Support Battalion of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Motor Transport Battalion

The Motor Transport Battalion of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Signal Company

Show Subordinated Units

Anti-Tank Company

The Anti-Tank Company of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Electronic Warfare Company

The Electronic Warfare Company of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Sniper Company

The Sniper Company of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Medical Company

The Medical Company of the Brigade.

Show Subordinated Units

Former Units

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 official social pages.

T-64BV

Main Battle Tank

BTR-4

Armoured Personnel Carrier

BMP-1

Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Inguar-3

MRAP

Roshel Senator MRAP

MRAP

Varta

Light Armored Vehicle

Kozak-2

Light Armored Vehicle

Novator-2

MRAP

DITA

Artillery

2A65 Msta-B

Towed Artillery

D-30

Towed Artillery

D-20

Towed Artillery

BM-21 Grad

Rocket Artillery

Second variant, May 2023 – October 2025

Second variant, October 2025 – Today

This page was created on February 4, 2023, and last edited on April 14, 2026.

Check out more units |

Unmanned Systems Battalion

Linear unit

ББС 12 БрСпП «Азов»

6th Arsenal

A1479

6 апзу

Group Toretsk

???

Тг Торецьк