The department noted that mobilized, contract soldiers, as well as volunteers who arrived under the Offensive Guard program are taking part in the exercises.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs showed how the soldiers of the Spartan assault brigade are being prepared for being sent to the front. The corresponding video was published on the official website of the department.
It is reported that in addition to those who arrived as part of the Offensive Guard program, mobilized Ukrainians, as well as those who signed a contract for military service, are participating in the exercises.
The head of combat training of the third operational brigade of the National Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Artem Zinoviev, noted that the training lasts about six weeks and consists of three stages:
combined arms training, in particular, firearms and engineering training, tactical medicine and topography; training of snipers, machine gunners, grenade launchers and crews of armored personnel carriers; working out tasks in squads, platoons, companies and battalions.
“We are trying to pass on to the volunteers our experience that we gained during the hostilities in 2014-2015,” said an instructor of the National Guard with the call sign “Alex”.
Exercises of volunteers of the assault brigade “Spartan”
One of the fighters of the “Spartan” brigade with the call sign “Pioneer” said that he was able to join the unit thanks to the “Offensive Guard” initiative. The 50-year-old man has military experience, but earlier in the TCC he was told that his military specialty was not yet required.
What is known about the “Offensive Guard”
On February 3, 2023, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the formation of assault units, united in the Offensive Guard. According to Interior Minister Igor Klymenko, the goal of this initiative is to strengthen the Ukrainian army and de-occupy the territories.
Klymenko also noted that the assault brigades will consist exclusively of motivated volunteers driven by patriotism. You can apply on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine noted that volunteers can decide for themselves which of the brigades will be trained. In total, recruitment goes to 8 units: Krasnaya Kalina, Rubezh, Spartan, Kara-Dag, Bureviy, the Steel Border brigade of the State Border Service, the Lyut brigade of the National Police and the famous Azov.
According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlichenko, a large number of people wishing to join the ranks of the mentioned brigades arrived already on the first day. She also clarified that the recruitment is open to both men and women.
Igor Klimenko noted that as of March 7, the Offensive Guard had already received more than 23,000 applications, of which 5% were women. The minister also stressed that 1.5% of applications were received from foreign citizens, but they still do not have the opportunity to get into the Offensive Guard.
