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Andriy Biletsky is the commander of the Third Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the founder and first commander of the Azov Regiment. In 2014, he led the liberation of Mariupol, and in 2015 carried out a series of operations in Donetsk region, including the liberation of Shyrokyne. On the eve of the full-scale invasion, he launched the campaign “Don’t Panic! Prepare!”, which became one of the largest civilian training programs for war readiness. In 2022, he created the Azov Special Operations Forces and took part in the battles for the Kyiv region, as well as organizing operations to deblockade Mariupol. That same year, Biletsky founded the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, which quickly became one of the most combat-capable in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Under his command, the brigade took part in the defense of Bakhmut and was the first in that sector to launch a counteroffensive, regaining more than 20 km² of territory. In February 2024, the brigade was redeployed to Avdiivka. On this critical section of the front, the brigade’s fighters prevented the encirclement of Ukrainian forces and ensured the withdrawal of AFU units from the city. Since March 2025, Biletsky has commanded the Third Army Corps, which holds 150 km of the frontline and resists three Russian armies. He pays particular attention to innovation: the Killhouse academy was established to train assault troops in realistic conditions, and he also promotes the development of ground robotic systems. Thanks to systematic training of personnel, the 3rd Assault Brigade maintains one of the lowest rates of unauthorized desertion among all Ukrainian brigades.
