About 3rd Army Corps

Andriy Biletsky

Commander of the 3rd Army Corps

Founder and first commander of the “Azov” Regiment (formerly known as the “Black Men”).
Founder of the Azov Special Operations Detachment and active participant in the battles for the liberation of the Kyiv region.
Commanded the liberation of Mariupol in 2014.
Organized operations to break the blockade of Mariupol.

Initiated and commanded operations to liberate Shyrokyne and several settlements in Donetsk region in 2015.
Initiated the “Don’t Panic! Get Ready!” mass training events campaign for civilians before the full-scale invasion.
Founder of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and commander of Tactical Group “A” during the defense of Bakhmut.
Commander of the 3rd Army Corps since March 2025.

2006

The history of the Third Army Corps began long before the full-scale war. Its core started forming in the mid-2000s, when the current commander of the 3rd AC, Andriy Biletskyi, founded the Patriot of Ukraine organization in Kharkiv. This was a nationalist structure focused on physical training and ideological education of youth. Even then, members of the organization were preparing for a war with Russia, while society did not yet consider such a scenario possible. A team of future commanders and instructors formed around Andriy during that period. Those who would later become the backbone of the units that fought in 2014–2022.

2013

During the Revolution of Dignity, Patriot of Ukraine together with other nationalist organizations joined the Right Sector which was the security wing of the protests. For many future commanders of the 3rd AC this was a period of real street combat, organizing the defense of Maidan, managing platoons, and standing night shifts. This is where their skills in coordination, discipline, leadership under stress, and readiness for future armed resistance were forged.

2014

THE BLACK CORPS

At the outset of the Russian–Ukrainian war, during the night of February 28 to March 1, 2014, based on the Patriot of Ukraine organization, Andriy Biletsky formed a partisan detachment called the Black Corps (the so-called “black men”). Their decisive actions became a key factor in preventing the implementation of the “Russian Spring” in Kharkiv.

The detachment neutralized the Oplot club which was the base of anti-Ukrainian forces, and at the time served as the main center of coordination for pro-Russian separatists in the city.

The Black Corps also defended the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, preventing the proclamation of the so-called “KhNR” (Kharkiv People’s Republic).

On March 15, in the center of Kharkiv on Rymarska Street, the detachment took part in the first armed clash of the Russian–Ukrainian war and thwarted an attempt by pro-Russian forces to carry out a coup d’état in the Kharkiv region.

2014

"AZOV"

On May 5, based on the “black men” detachment, Andriy Biletsky founded the Azov Battalion and became its first commander. The unit carried out a series of successful operations in the Donetsk sector. In the summer of 2014, Azov liberated Mariupol and Marinka, and took part in the battles near Ilovaisk. Within a few months, the unit expanded into a regiment and became the first in Ukraine to implement NATO standards. In the winter of 2015, the regiment launched the Shyrokyne offensive operation. As a result, five settlements were liberated (Shyrokyne, Berdyanske, Lebedynske, Kominternove, and Pavlopil), and the front line was pushed away from Mariupol.

2022

TDF “AZOV”

On February 24, in the first hours of the full-scale invasion, Andriy Biletsky formed the Azov Territorial Defense Detachment, made up of seasoned 2014–2022 war veterans-volunteers. The unit defended Kyiv and the Kyiv region, conducting raids in the areas of Hostomel, Irpin, Bucha, and Vorzel.

Together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the outskirts of Brovary near Skybyn settlement, the fighters set up an ambush and destroyed a BTG convoy of the 6th Tank Regiment of Russia’s 90th Tank Division. The Russians lost almost an entire regiment, and its commander, Colonel Zakharov, was killed. The occupiers halted their advance toward Kyiv and soon retreated.

2022

“AZOV” Special Operations Detachment

On March 9, 2022, the unit was expanded into the Azov Separate Special Purpose Detachment within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later, it was reorganized into “Azov” Special Operations Detachment.

In March, the fighters of the unit took part in an airborne operation into the besieged city of Mariupol. During the mission, helicopters managed to deliver 72 fighters, bring weapons and medical supplies, and evacuate the severely wounded.

Later, the unit fought in the Zaporizhzhia direction, liberating Vyshneve and Novodarivka. In November 2022, the unit joined the counteroffensive operation of the Defense Forces in the Kherson region.

2023

3rd Separate Assault Brigade

In January, the unit was expanded into the 3rd Assault Brigade and deployed to Bakhmut which was the most intense sector of the front, directly against the main strike axis of PMC “Wagner”.

The fighters of the 3rd Assault Brigade held the defense under brutal combat and relentless infantry assaults. Thanks to high-level training and thorough operational planning, the brigade carried out a series of offensive actions leading up to the start of the Defense Forces’ 2023 counteroffensive.

In May, the 3rd Assault Brigade destroyed the enemy bridgehead on the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal and pushed Russian forces away from the “Road of Life” leading to Bakhmut.

Over the summer and autumn, the brigade returned Andriivka and more than 20 km² under Ukrainian control which is roughly 10% of the territory liberated by the Special Operations Forces during the 2023 summer counteroffensive.

2024

ADAPTING TO THE NEW REALITIES OF WAR

In 2024, the 3rd Assault Brigade cemented its status as one of the most forward-thinking units, actively developing its technological capabilities and implementing modern standards of command and logistics. This period was marked by the opening of the brigade’s own FPV-drone school network, becoming the national leader in the number of combat UAV sorties, mastering, and later excelling, in the use of ground robotic systems during assaults. The brigade became the first to implement full-scale blocking of enemy UAVs across the entire depth of the defensive zone. In parallel with technological advancements, the unit demonstrated exceptional results in military medicine. The 3rd Assault Brigade achieved the lowest casualty mortality rate at stabilization points and became the only brigade to present NATO HQ with its medical support system as a case study.

2024

ADAPTING TO THE NEW REALITIES OF WAR

All of this enabled the brigade to demonstrate high combat effectiveness at a critical moment in February, when the unit was deployed to reinforce Avdiivka. At the hottest point of the front, where Ukrainian forces were facing the threat of encirclement, the fighters of the 3rd Assault Brigade stood against seven brigades of the Russian army. After the command decided on a withdrawal, the brigade’s fighters ensured the safe retreat of other units and were the last to leave the city. The 3rd Assault Brigade also stopped the enemy breakthrough toward Pokrovsk and liberated Krasnohorivka near Marinka.

Since May 3, the 3rd Assault Brigade has been defending the Kharkiv region, holding a difficult 50-km-long section of the frontline.

In August, during one of the brigade’s offensive operations, they managed to advance nearly 2 km² deep into the enemy’s lines.

2025

EXPANSION INTO THE THIRD ARMY CORPS

At the beginning of the year, the 3rd Assault Brigade repelled two large-scale mechanized assaults in the Kharkiv region, destroying Russian armor in what became known as a “tankocide.” The brigade liberated the settlement of Nadiya. Its fighters set records for destroying enemy UAVs, often ranking first among all line brigades of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Continuing active participation in frontline combat, in March the 3rd Assault Brigade began its expansion into the Third Army Corps.сFrom August, the brigade was reinforced by the 53rd, 60th, and 63rd separate mechanized brigades, as well as the 125th separate heavy mechanized brigade and part of the “Kraken” special unit.

Maintaining its role as the technological leader of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 3rd Army Corps forms its own drone systems regiment and a strike company of ground robotic platforms NC13.

2025

EXPANSION INTO THE THIRD ARMY CORPS

After the integration of additional brigades, the 3rd Army Corps took part in stabilization and offensive actions in the Borova and Lyman directions. The area of responsibility reached 150 km of the frontline.

On August 4, the 3rd Army Corps halted a Russian advance at the final defensive line of the Northern Donbas and Kharkiv region.

On August 24, the Third Corps, together with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, expelled the occupiers from Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region.

On October 24, using drones and artillery, the forces of the 3rd Army Corps repelled a Russian mechanized assault in the Lyman sector.

Technological achievements of the Corps on the battlefield reached a new level: the UGV Droid TW 12.7, operated remotely by its crew, autonomously held a combat position for a month and a half, thus replacing infantry.