Skip to content

Khorunzha Service 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov”

About unit

The Standard-Bearer Service of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov” represents the culmination of effective and sustained work by a team of like-minded individuals. It all began with the Azov Standard-Bearer Service, which was established in 2015 out of a need to maintain high motivation and the ideological distinctiveness of the volunteer community.

The unit is responsible for rituals and ceremonies, preserves and establishes unit traditions, conducts ideological work with personnel, engages in motivation and national-patriotic education of personnel, organizes cultural and mass events, communicates with educational institutions, and honors the memory of the fallen. Representatives of the Ensign Service of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov” worked as professors at higher education institutions in civilian life and hold academic degrees and titles. Officers are engaged in the ideological training of ensigns (deputy commanders for personnel affairs), conducting schools and courses. In 2017, the “Lieutenant School named after Lieutenant Colonel M. Stsiborsky” was established for their training. This Azov educational institution has evolved from the “Azov” Special Operations School to the “Lieutenant School named after M. Stsiborsky of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine ‘Azov’.” Currently, not only servicemen from the corps’ brigades but also comrades from other units are undergoing training at the School.

Symbols

Chevron
Chevron
Flag
Flag

History

Development

May - December 2025

The Corps Ensign Service was established based on the personnel resources of the Ensign Service of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov.” During its first year of operation, the unit was joined by officers who, in civilian life, had represented leading universities in Ukraine. Systematic work began on developing the ensign services of the corps’ brigades. In June 2025, the first instructor training courses were held to train the corps’ brigade ensigns.

On July 28, a new tradition was established to honor the memory of those tortured or killed in captivity. On the night of July 28–29, 53 Azov fighters donned T-shirts bearing the names and call signs of those who died in Olenivka, took 53 torches in their hands in their memory, and held a run. On September 21, 2025, the tradition of holding the Mystery of Remembrance for Fallen Comrades was continued at the corps level.
In October, the corps’ First Ensign School was held. Officers of the corps’ Ensign Service launched a lecture program among the corps’ personnel. Lectures were conducted for the corps’ support units and brigades. Practical assistance was provided to brigade ensigns in organizing lecture work and implementing ideological guidelines, ceremonial protocols, and ritual practices. Systematic cooperation was established with leading higher education institutions in the areas of national-patriotic education for students and cadets.

Scaling

January - April 2026

The corps’ brigade ensign services are being expanded. Systematic work with personnel is underway. In January 2026, the Second M. Stsiborsky Ensign School of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov” was held. In addition to representatives of the brigades of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov,” comrades from the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces participated in the School. Based on the results of the training, it was decided to hold a field school for ensigns of the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces. In March, the school was held, and the paratroopers launched the operations of their ensign services.

Fruitful cooperation with educational institutions continues. In February 2026, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Corps and the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Army Academy. In April, the Third Ensign School was held, with representatives from the Special Purpose Police Department “United Assault Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine ‘Lut’” participating.

Commander

Vladislav "Docent" Dutchak

First Lieutenant

In civilian life, he devoted 25 years to working in educational institutions. By profession, he is a history teacher and instructor of humanities courses. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and is an associate professor. He began collaborating with the Azov Regiment in 2017. As a guest lecturer, he gave lectures on military history to personnel and provided methodological assistance in organizing courses on humanities training. He has been a member of the Azov Regiment since 2021. He faced the large-scale invasion by Russian Federation troops in the city of Mariupol while already serving in the Azov Regiment. From May 20 to September 21, 2022, he was a prisoner at the Olenivka concentration camp. After being exchanged and recovering, he resumed his service. Since 2017, he has been the permanent director of the M. Stsiborsky Ensign School.

Structure

Khorunzha Service

Be the first one

Join the ranks of the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine Fill out the form

FAQ