1st Azov Corps
| 1st Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard | |
|---|---|
| 1-й корпус Національної гвардії України | |
Shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 15 April 2025 – present |
| Country | |
| Branch | |
| Size | Corps |
| Mottos | In Fire, Iron is Melted into Steel, in Struggle, People Turn Into a Nation! |
| Engagements | Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Website | Official Facebook page |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Denys Prokopenko |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | |
The 1st Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard "Azov" (Ukrainian: 1-й корпус Національної гвардії України «Азов») is a corps of the National Guard of Ukraine.[1] Its identifying symbol since foundation is Wolfsangel.
History
[edit]The 1st Azov Corps, a formation within the Ukrainian National Guard, has its roots tied to the earlier establishment of the Azov Brigade. The Azov unit was initially founded as a special forces battalion under the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 5 May 2014.[2] The battalion quickly grew in prominence and capability, eventually scaling up to become the Azov Brigade, which played a crucial role in defending Ukraine since its inception.[3]

In a more recent development, the 1st Azov Corps was officially formed, with Colonel Denys Prokopenko, the commander of the Azov Brigade, appointed to lead this new corps.[4] This move is part of a broader military reform within Ukraine, aiming to enhance the structure and operational effectiveness of its armed forces. The creation of the 1st Azov Corps signifies an evolution from the earlier volunteer militia roots into a more formalized and state-overseen military entity.[5]
In August 2025, it was reported that units of the 1st Corps were involved in the recapture of the villages of Novovodiane, Petrivka, Rubizhne, Hruzke, Vesele and Zolotyi Kolodiaz in the Donetsk region.[6][7][8]
Structure
[edit]As of 2025 the corps structure is as follows:[4][1]
1st Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard “Azov”
- Corps Headquarters
- Management
- Commandant Platoon
Personnel Training Battalion
41st Pilotless Systems Regiment "Pilum"
Recruitment Service
Tuman Detachment
1st Presidential Operational Brigade "Bureviy"[9]
- Brigade Command and Headquarters
1st Operational Battalion "Forpost"
3rd Operational Battalion "Hroza"- 4th Operational Battalion "Horyv"
Kulchytskyi Battalion[10]
Unmanned Systems Battalion "Kondor"- Artillery Division
- Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Division "Borey"
Sniper Company "Bekas"- Technical Intelligence Unit "Zaychyky Chrkesa"
Harmash Brigade
12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov"[2]
Brigade Command and Headquarters
1st Special Purpose Battalion
2nd Special Purpose Battalion
3rd International Battalion
6th Special Purpose Battalion
Brigade Artillery Group
Tank Battalion
Unmanned Systems Battalion
Anti-Aircraft Missile Artillery Battalion
Support Forces Battalion- Communications Node
Technical Intelligence Company
Medical Company- Sniper Company
- Commandment's Company
Electronic Warfare Company- Service Support Battalion
- Automobile Battalion
Special Purpose Reconnaissance Detachment- Psychological Service
14th Operational Brigade "Chervona Kalyna"[11]
Brigade Command and Headquarters
1st Operational Battalion
2nd Operational Battalion
3rd Operational Battalion- 4th Guardsmen Battalion
5th Guardsmen Battalion- 6th Guardsmen Battalion
Tank Company- Reconnaissance Company
- Signal Company
- Artillery Group
- Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
- Engineering Battalion
- Logistics Battalion
15th Operational Brigade "Kara-Dah"[12]
- Brigade Command and Headquarters
1st Operational Battalion
3rd Operational Battalion- 4th Guardsmen Battalion
- 5th Guardsmen Battalion
- 6th Guardsmen Battalion
- Artillery Group
- Tank Company
Special Purpose Reconnaissance Company
Unmanned Systems Battalion "Ghost of Khortytsia"- Anti-Aircraft Defense Battalion
Support Battalion
20th Operational Brigade "Lyubart"[13]
- Corps Headquarters
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "1st Azov Corps". MilitaryLand.net. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- 1 2 "Unit's History, Structure, Combat Record, and Traditions". Бригада Азов. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ↑ "Azov Battalion - History of Battalion Azov | AZOV.ONE". azov.one. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- 1 2 "Azov, Khartiia commanders to lead 2 new National Guard corps". The Kyiv Independent. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ↑ "Ukrainian Military Reform: Azov, 3rd Assault Brigades to Form Core of New Corps". Militarnyi. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ↑ "Сили оборони зачистили від росіян шість населених пунктів на Донеччині - Генштаб". Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 17 August 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ Струк, Діана (18 August 2025). "У Генштабі заявили про зачистку шести населених пунктів на Донеччині". Firtka (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ "Російська спроба прориву та закріплення на Донеччині нівельована українськими Силами оборони". Новини Полтавщини (in Ukrainian). 17 August 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ↑ "Підрозділи | Офіційний сайт бригади «Буревій» | Гвардія Наступу". www.bureviy.army (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Батальйон імені Кульчицького увійшов до бригади «Буревій»". militarnyi.com. 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Chervona Kalyna Brigade". MilitaryLand.net. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Kara-Dag Brigade". MilitaryLand.net. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Lyubart Brigade". MilitaryLand.net. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2025.