The founder and first commander of the "Azov" regiment (prior to that, the "little black men").
Commanded the liberation of Mariupol in 2014.
Initiated and commanded the operations to liberate Shyrokyne and a number of settlements in Donetsk region in 2015.
The organizer of the campaign "Don't panic! Prepare!" — mass trainings for civilians before the full-scale invasion.
The founder of the SSO (SOF) "Azov" and an active participant in the battles for the liberation of Kyiv region.
The organizer of the deblocking operation of Mariupol.
The founder of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and the commander of tactical group "A" in the defense of Bakhmut.
Commander of the Third Army Corps since March, 2025
About the brigade
The Third Separate Assault Brigade is a volunteer unit formed in the early days of the full-scale invasion. The founder is the first commander of the "Azov" regiment Andriy Biletskyi.
The Third Separate Assault Brigade was formed on the same principles on which the legendary "Azov" and the entire Azov movement are based. The foundation worldview principles of the Azovian units are Ukrainian-centrism, traditionalism, hierarchy and responsibility. After passing a difficult selection, only highly motivated and strong-spirited fighters, ready for constant improvement and tough battles with the enemy on the front line, enter our ranks.
Veterans of the SSOD "Azov" of the National Guard of Ukraine and representatives of the Azov movement became the backbone of the TrO (Territorial Defence Forces) volunteer unit, created on
On March 9, the detachment was expanded to the Separate Special Operations Regiment "Azov" as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and later reformed into SSO "Azov", a separate detachment of the AFU. In January 2023, SSO "Azov" became part of the Ground Forces of the AFU and was expanded to a brigade.
Battle Path
The onset of the full-scale invasion
The unit was involved in the defense of Kyiv and the Kyiv oblast, and conducted an airdrop into the encircled Mariupol. It was engaged in the fighting on the Zaporizhzhia direction and took part in the liberation of the Kherson oblast.
Hot frontlines:
Bakhmut and Avdiivka
Since the beginning of 2023, the Third Assault Brigade has been fighting on the Bakhmut direction. In the spring, the brigade was the first to launch the counteroffensive. The forces of the brigade returned over
In February 2024, the 3rd AB was redeployed to Avdiivka. On this critical sector of the frontline, the brigade’s fighters prevented the encirclement of Ukrainian forces and secured the withdrawal of ZSU units from the city. On February 24, the president of Ukraine recognized the unit’s combat achievements and presented the 3rd Assault Brigade with the battle banner.
Kharkiv campaign
Since May 2024, the 3rd Assault Brigade has been defending the Kharkiv oblast near Borova village, holding a 50 km section of the frontline. On
On March 23, 2025, the Third Assault Brigade liberated the settlement of Nadiya in the Luhansk oblast, reclaiming
with the possibility of transfer for the service members from other units
of the recruiting centers
