“The modern history of Ukraine is being written now. Don’t watch, act! Fill out the volunteer form and join the assault brigades of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that will liberate Donetsk, Luhansk and other occupied territories together with Crimea. We guarantee combat clashes on the front line. You choose the brigade and the direction of attack yourself and it is guaranteed you get to like-minded people. Protect the country and your relatives, become a volunteer!” – the “Offensive Guard” site appeals to users. This guard consists of eight brigades of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is stated on the website of the project. Six are recruited by the National Guard, one each by the police and the State Border Service.
The Ukrainian assault brigades “Chervona Kalina”, “Kara-Dag”, “Bureviy”, “Rubizh”, “Spartan”, “Azov”, “Lyut” and “Stalevy Kordon” continue their activities. These brigades were formed as part of the Offensive Guard project initiated in February 2023 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. They consist of volunteers motivated to participate in the liberation of territories occupied by Russian aggressors, including Luhansk, Donetsk and Crimea.
“Offensive Guard” – how it all began
In February last year, acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko announced that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has started recruiting volunteers for eight assault brigades, which will strengthen the defense forces of Ukraine and take part in the liberation of the occupied territories.
The initiative to create assault brigades came from employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, “who have enough fury to beat the enemy.” “Offensive Guard” are professional assault brigades of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Teams of patriot fighters who strive to destroy the enemy and liberate the occupied lands of Ukraine. No rear tasks. Only high-quality training, constant training and participation in front-line operations. The formation of units is already underway,” commented Acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko on Facebook on February 3 last year.
Initially, the project was initiated by Denys Monastyrskyi, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who died in a plane crash in Brovary in January 2023. It was assumed that the attractiveness, viability and effectiveness of this project would ensure the voluntary choice of recruits.
Anyone who wants to can choose a military unit according to their spirit, sign up, undergo mandatory multi-month combat training followed by combat coordination of new units. That is, not under the conditions of general mobilization, where they will be assigned, but on your own initiative in a unit that corresponds to your values and ideology.
Azov Battalion
This is a truly legendary regiment of the National Guard, which became famous defending Mariupol surrounded by Russian invaders in 2022. “Azov” are known for their operations on the front line. They take part in battles, provide security and support the civilian population.
This legendary combat unit was formed in 2014 in Mariupol from football hooligans and far-right extremists, aimed at protecting Mariupol from pro-Russian armed groups. The liberation of Mariupol in 2014 brought them the first glory and popularity. Later, this military community was transformed into a battalion of the special purpose police patrol service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Finally, Azov underwent a strong transformation, purged itself of far-right elements and joined the National Guard, which became an example of successful deradicalization. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it was Azov that stood at the forefront of Mariupol’s defense.
The Azov battalion is like a bone in the throat for Russian propaganda and its main ideologist. This army of orcs was demonized a long time ago, calling them neo-Nazis, and the fight against them was made one of the main reasons for the invasion of Ukraine.
The movement is just beginning
The Third Combined Assault Brigade (3rd OSHBr) is a tactical unit of the Ground Forces of Ukraine. It was formed on the basis of the SSO unit, which, in turn, was created on the basis of the volunteer territorial defense unit “Azov”.
This unit was created in Kyiv in the first hours of the full-scale invasion. The backbone of the unit was veterans of the “Azov” OZSP of the National Guard of Ukraine and representatives of the Azov movement. The creator and commander of the brigade is Colonel Andriy Biletskyi. The brigade took an active part in the defense of Ukraine, in particular in the battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
Its commander with the call sign Datsyk can be safely called the face of the 3rd OShBr. The video of the assaults from the camera on his helmet is shown by the world media.
His father was a peacekeeper in Yugoslavia. Vlad (Datsyk) also wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and take part in a peacekeeping mission abroad. When the hybrid conflict broke out in 2014, Vlad was only 16. But in 2 years it became clear that the conflict was ongoing, and he, being of legal age, signed the contract. He got into the Marine Corps, trained a lot, gained a lot of military experience. He returned to a peaceful life, but soon realized that he wanted to go back and got into the attack aircraft – exactly where he wanted to go. He did not consider other military specialties.
He had the experience of encountering the Wagnerites. Arranged a psychic attack on the Wagnerites, echoing with them until exhaustion. It was with his participation that a turning point in the hostilities occurred, when the “third assault” went from defense to defense. He believes that a well-organized assault is “when you fly in character. You completely clear the entire area and come out without losses.”
The “Rage” brigade is revenge against the Russian occupiers for every Ukrainian killed
It is an unprecedented case that an assault unit was created in the ranks of the Ukrainian police. “Lyut” conducts combat and reconnaissance operations in the Donetsk region, on the front line. Oleksandr Netrebko, the commander of the united assault brigade of the “Lyut” police, a young colonel, a professional military man, participated in the defense of Debaltseve, Donetsk airport. After the anti-terrorist operation, he served in the police and could have stayed behind to protect public order, which had already become his profession at that time. But, realizing that his main intention is to methodically expel the occupiers from Ukrainian land, he headed the recently formed unit of the Patrol Police Department.
Under the command of Alexander, the new formation entered Irpen, where the atrocities of Russian soldiers and officers made an unforgettable impression on him. After Irpen, the brigade visited Buchi. The sight of several dozen people tied up and tortured to death at the entrance to Bucha caused Alexander and his comrades such rage that they left no doubt about the need to replenish the squad and act ruthlessly. “The main goal is to destroy all Russian soldiers and Russian officers, so that they leave the territory of Ukraine forever and in the future they never think to step on the Ukrainian soil once again.”
In an interview in 2023, the commander of the OSHB characterized the moral and psychological mood of his boys as follows: “Everyone stands confident in themselves, with fire in their eyes, because they understand that if they retreat, the invaders will come to other cities and will be the same destroy our children.” Orcs are already obsessed with the idea of revenge, resentment, and in this situation, half-measures, softness, compliance are unacceptable.
Oleksandr urges everyone – regardless of training and age – who has leadership qualities and a high motivation to take revenge by destroying the Russian occupiers to join the ranks of Luty. From the experience of serving in airborne assault troops, the commander of stormtroopers knows: often subtle, but well-motivated, strong-spirited soldiers are not inferior in efficiency and power to fighters with an athletic physique.
Once in “Lyut”, recruits are trained in both individual physical training and coordinated group work. A recruit who decides to join the “Rage” must be aware of the intensity of the battle that awaits the brigade. For example, in the battles near the Donetsk airport and Bakhmut, the battle pattern was similar in the sense that the invaders would advance 10-20 at a time, but immediately fall hard under the onslaught of “Lyuta”. The “two hundred” orcs are immediately replaced by the living. Our defenders managed to destroy most of them with artillery fire even before the start of the shooting battle.
Bureviy – brigade “disposal of Russian military”
This is a brigade that strives to destroy the enemy and liberate the occupied lands of Ukraine. “Bureviy” specializes in anti-terrorist operations and the fight against illegal armed resistance. They also carry out public security tasks, guarding important state facilities and infrastructure facilities, “Bureviy” – the 1st presidential brigade of operational assignment. This is a brigade of “disposal of the Russian military, as they call themselves. And this storm is coming at the enemies,” their profile reports.
The “Kara-Dag” brigade is actively operating in Crimea. They are engaged in counter-intelligence, the fight against illegal armed groups and ensuring border security.
“Kara for Crimea – this is what “Kara-Dag” means,” reports the profile of the brigade, which declares its goal of liberating Crimea. The brigade’s track record includes several downed Russian Su-25 aircraft, Ka-52 helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.
The geography of their presence is the Zaporizhzhia region, they took part in the defense of Melitopol and stopped the offensive of the overwhelming enemy forces in the direction of Vasylivka – Zaporizhzhia and Tokmak – Orichiv.
“Red viburnum” – the red flame of the offensive
This brigade specializes in operations in mountainous areas and forests. They carry out reconnaissance missions and provide security on the front lines. It was these fighters who prevented the enemy from breaking through to the Ukrainian capital. The defeat of the column of invaders near the village of Buzova near Kyiv is also their merit.
Since June 2022, the units of the regiment as part of the consolidated battalion group in the operational-tactical group “North” of the operational-strategic group of troops “Khortytsia” participated in battles in Severodonetsk, Lysychansk and Belogorivka of the Luhansk region, Spirn and Verkhnyokamyansk of the Donetsk region, showing steadfastness and determination, giving a worthy rebuff to the invaders.
“Spartan” – a brigade of operational assignment. The unit took part in the liberation of Malaya Rohan, Tsirkuny of the Kharkiv region, defended and defends Kharkiv. The brigade also holds positions in the Toretsk district of the Donetsk region.
Brigades of the National Police and the State Border Service
Brigade “Rubizh” is engaged in the protection of state borders. They provide security at border areas and stop illegal border crossings. Its servicemen were the first to fight the orcs in Gostomel near Kyiv. “The fighters of the brigade did not allow the occupiers to deploy the main forces in the immediate vicinity of Kyiv. Then five Russian helicopters were destroyed and one was damaged, as well as about a company of enemy personnel was destroyed,” the description of the brigade reads.
In March, the unit’s fighters fought with the occupiers in the area of Irpen, Moschun, Huta of the Mezhyhirsky region of Kyiv region, and also took part in the battles for Rubizhne and Severodonetsk of the Luhansk region.
“Steel Border”
15th mobile border detachment of the State Security Service. It was created as a unit of a new model. “Steel border” provides security at border areas and stops illegal border crossings. Fighters of the unit fought with the occupiers in the area of Irpen, Moschun, and Huta Mezhihirska.
As noted in the Telegram channel of the project, “everyone who is a patriot, who lost his home or relatives in this war” can join the brigades. “Eight brigades are one enemy. It’s time to return our own,” the authors of the post emphasize.
To join one of the brigades, you can submit an application on the project website storm.mvs.gov.ua. The units will consist exclusively of volunteers who are motivated by patriotism. We believe that there are still enough of such people in our country…
Tatyana Morarash
