First National Guard Assault Regiment Formed

The Ukrainian National Guard has officially formed a new unit within the branch, its first assault regiment, which was formed on the basis of one of the battalions within the structure of the Khartia Brigade, as part of the 2nd Khartia Corps.

On March 10, 2025, the Minister of Interior, Ihor Klymenko, announced that the two combat corps within the Ukrainian National Guard, namely the 1st Azov and 2nd Khartia Corps, would both be receiving several new units.

This included the formation of an Assault Regiment, and an Unmanned Systems Regiment within each structure. Additionally, a separate anti-air defense regiment would be formed, distinct from both corps, similar to the 16th Artillery Brigade of the National Guard.

“The main goal is to strengthen the capabilities of units on the battlefield, scale the use of modern technologies, and increase the effectiveness of countering aerial threats.“

On March 27, 2026, the 4th Operational Battalion of the Khartia Brigade announced that it would form the basis of the 23rd Assault Regiment as part of the 2nd Khartia Corps, which would focus on assault operations within the corps’ area of responsibility in Kharkiv Oblast.

Interestingly, the core of the unit is partially built from foreign fighters. Known as the Reconnaissance Strike Group, or more commonly abbreviated as R.U.H. The group has been fighting since the first year of the full-scale invasion, taking part in combat operations with the 59th Motorized Brigade during the Kherson offensive.

Later, it would transfer to the ranks of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, where it saw an increase in Spanish-speaking and some Portuguese-speaking volunteers from abroad. In mid to late 2025, the unit, now at the strength of a company, joined the ranks of the Ukrainian National Guard in the Khartia Brigade.

In December 2025, leadership and experience were consolidated within the 4th Operational Battalion, more commonly known as the International Battalion, which began coordinating combat operations alongside recent clearing efforts in Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast.

One important distinction to highlight is how assault regiments are employed across different branches. Within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, assault units were recently assigned to a newly established, separate branch known as the Assault Troops. This formation includes assault battalions and regiments that are often deployed flexibly along the frontline.

By contrast, the Ukrainian National Guard plans to integrate its assault regiments within each corps’ area of responsibility, concentrating their use to maximize operational effectiveness. This more structured approach was initially expected to take shape within the Ukrainian Ground Forces’ corps system but never fully materialized, reflecting a different organizational vision under Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.