Ukrainian Regiment Earns Reputation for Aggressive Tactics, Incursions into Russian Territory
The 225th Separate Assault Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has gained a reputation for its aggressive offensive maneuvers, including a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast in August 2024. The unit, initially formed in March 2022 as a territorial defense battalion, has become known among Russian forces for its high-risk operations and effectiveness, according to reports.
Established on March 8, 2022, as the 225th Territorial Defense Battalion within the 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade based in Kharkiv Oblast, the unit drew its initial ranks from local volunteers responding to the Russian invasion. The 225th Separate Assault Regiment transitioned to an assault battalion under the direct command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in July 2023, and was expanded into a full regiment by February 2025.
The regiment’s operations have included intense fighting in the Donetsk region, particularly around Bakhmut, and later in the areas of Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar from autumn 2023 to summer 2024. MilitaryLand.net details the regiment’s structure, which includes the 1st Assault Battalion “Black Swan,” the 2nd Assault Battalion “Alliance Division,” the 3rd Assault Battalion, the Shkval Battalion “Morok” – a penal battalion comprised of mobilized convicts – and the Pentagon Battalion, specializing in unmanned aerial systems.
In August 2024, the 225th was involved in a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, where it reportedly cleared strongholds and liberated settlements like Darino amidst heavy fighting. The unit’s tank crews, utilizing drone coordination, have also been credited with destroying Russian assault groups, reportedly eliminating up to ten enemy personnel per engagement near Sribne.
Prior to the Kursk incursion, the battalion recaptured villages along the Sumy border, including Kindrativka and Andriyivka, from brief Russian occupations in mid-2025, employing combined arms tactics. The regiment was transferred to Sumy Oblast in August 2024, acting as a breakthrough assault unit during the incursion.
Currently commanded by Oleh Shyriaiev, the 225th Separate Assault Regiment continues to be a key component of Ukraine’s ongoing defense efforts. The unit’s evolution from a territorial defense battalion to a full assault regiment highlights the changing nature of the conflict and Ukraine’s adaptation to the evolving battlefield conditions.
