Ukraine forms eight “Offensive Guard” Brigades with over 35,000 applications received

31 March, 2023 Ukrainian military. March 2023. Ukraine.

Photo credits: National Guard of Ukraine More than 35,000 applications have already been sent to the "Offensive Guard" assault brigades. More than 16,000 of them -- to the National Guard of Ukraine.

Of the total number of volunteers, 10% have already been accepted into the ranks of the brigades. Colonel Mykola Urshalovych, the deputy director of the application planning department of the Main Administration of the National Guard of Ukraine informed ArmiyaInform about this. There is a certain percentage who can't be selected to the assault brigades due to their health state, insufficient level of physical training or failed interview.

"We continue to recruit teams and select people. At the same time, there are still many applications that we are working on. Each of them essentially needs attention and is examined by specific people.

Therefore, taking into account the volume, it will take time," Mykola Urshalovych said.

"Offensive Guard" brochure. February 2023. Ukraine.

Photo credits: Suspilne

He emphasized that the soldiers who joined the ranks of the "Offensive Guard" assault brigades have a high level of motivation. Soldiers who have passed all stages of selection are already undergoing individual training and combat coordination as part of units on training grounds. In some units, the training of anti-aircraft gunners and artillerymen have already started.

The "Offensive Guard" recruiting campaign will officially end on April 1, but may be extended. Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko also said that eight "Offensive Guard" brigades have been formed to date. "We have suspended the registration for the "Offensive Guard" because the units are practically formed.

At the same time, we have a lot of completed questionnaires and applications for admission, so we decided to continue the formation of our reserve units," Ihor Klymenko said.

Soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine "Khartia" brigade. Photo from the brigade's page

He noted that the "Offensive Guard" is currently being prepared for further de-occupation of the territory of Ukraine.

In addition, according to him, the units are ready to carry out stabilization measures in the future liberated territories.

As previously reported, the voluntary formation of the Kharkiv community "Khartia" became a brigade of the National Guard.

The unit will retain its name and become the basis of a mechanized brigade within the "Offensive Guard".