Offensive Guard

The Offensive Guard (Ukrainian: Гвардія Наступу, romanized: Hvardiia Nastupu) is a professional paramilitary formation of the National Guard of Ukraine, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ukraine. Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko announced its creation during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 2 February 2023.[1]

The formation envisions a strength of eight exclusively volunteer assault brigades, to be active by April 2023.[2] It was initially created by the inclusion of the Azov Brigade (formerly Azov Regiment), and a call for volunteers,[2][3] especially from active members of the National Police, Border Guards, and National Guard and veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2014.[1]

In just over a week, Internal Affairs registered 27,000 enquiries including 15,000 applications for admission, 500 of them female candidates, while more than 800 had already passed medical examinations in the enlistment process.[2][4]

The Offensive Guard is to comprise eight assault brigades. Six brigades of the National Guard, Azov, Burevii, Chervona Kalyna, Kara-Dag, Rubizh, and Spartan, one of the National Police, Liut, and one of the Border Guard, Stalevyi Kordon.[4]