8th SOF Regiment named after Prince Iziaslav Mstyslavych
The 8th Regiment is an elite formation of the Special Operations Forces. It is one of the most combat-capable units of reconnaissance and special operations, possessing a rich history and a high level of training among its fighters.
Unit symbols
Emblem:
SOF Vovkulaka (Werewolf) emblem
Colors:
grey, silver, blue
Honorary name:
named after Prince Iziaslav Mstyslavych
Area of expertise:
reconnaissance;
direct actions;
operating behind enemy lines;
Formation and heritage
The 8th Regiment traces its history back to December 15, 1962, in the city of Iziaslav, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, where the 8th Separate Special Forces Brigade was established. On June 1, 1993, its military unit designation was changed from Military Unit 65554 to Military Unit A0553.
Since 2003, the 8th Separate Special Forces Brigade transitioned to the structure of the 8th Separate Special Forces Regiment. In 2004, the 8th Separate Special Forces Regiment was redeployed to the city of Khmelnytskyi, occupying the facilities of the 15th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
In 2016, the military unit became part of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
International experience and peacekeeping missions
from January 1, 1963, the brigade commenced planned combat training classes.
In February 1985, the 186th Separate Special Forces Detachment was formed on the basis of the 8th Special Forces Brigade to fulfill internationalist duty in the Republic of Afghanistan.
Starting May 15, 1985, the 186th Separate Special Forces Detachment began combat operations to secure the state border of the Republic of Afghanistan with Pakistan.
By the end of 1985, the detachment's personnel completed over 200 combat deployments, 36 of which were reconnaissance missions.
In 1992, the 8th Special Forces Brigade conducted operations to guard the state border between Ukraine and Moldova.
Starting February 18, 2004, a special forces platoon from the 8th Separate Special Forces Regiment participated as part of the 6th Separate Mechanized Brigade in peacekeeping operations in the Republic of Iraq.
War since 2014: Crimea and Donbas
In 2014–2015, the regiment participated in the battles for Donetsk Airport, Shchastia, Rubizhne, Lyman, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Bakhmut, and Debaltseve.
From 2015 to 2022, the fighters of the 8th Regiment performed combat tasks on the line of contact with the occupiers in Eastern Ukraine, in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, as well as in Sumy Oblast.
Full-scale war since 2022
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the 8th Regiment has been constantly performing combat tasks within designated operational-tactical groups.
Since February 24, 2022, the personnel of the 8th Regiment have been executing combat missions. With the participation of the special forces warriors, they succeeded in holding back the enemy's onslaught on Hostomel Airfield and liberating settlements in Kyiv Oblast: Motyzhyn, Severenivka, Makariv, Havryshyne, Moshchun, Horenka, Pushcha-Vodytsya, Lyutizh, Bucha, Hostomel; settlements in Sumy Oblast: Ulanove, Kucherivka, Bobyne, Plakhivka, Kotivka, Viazenka, Maulove, Banychi, Velykyi Sambir, Malyi Sambir, Zelenyi Hai, Yarove, Lytvynovychi, Yaroslavets, Feofalivka, Stepne, Lukashenkove; as well as the outskirts of Kharkiv from Russian occupying forces.
During the counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, thanks to the heroic and professional actions of the military unit's service members, it became possible to successfully conduct offensive operations and liberate a large amount of territory, including the city of Izium.
Units of the military unit actively participated in combat operations to destroy the enemy during the defense of the settlements of Chasiv Yar and Toretsk. As a result of these combat tasks, the enemy suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment.
The 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces performed combat tasks during counteroffensive actions in the Zaporizhzhia direction. As a result of assault operations, the settlements of Robotyne and Verbove were liberated.
They also performed combat tasks during the Kursk operation. During combat actions, service members of one of the unit's detachments were the first to capture a serviceman of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from among those fighting on the side of the Russian Federation.
Today, the regiment's fighters perform combat tasks on all sectors of the front, remaining a symbol of professionalism, courage, and brotherhood.
0 / 240