1st Assault Regiment (Ukraine)
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 1st Separate Assault Regiment
| native_name = 1-й окремий штурмовий
| image = 1st Assault Battalion Da Vinci Wolves.png
| image_size = 200
| caption = Shoulder sleeve insignia
| start_date = January 20, 2014 – Today
| country = {{flag|Ukraine}}
| branch = {{Army|Ukraine}}
| command_structure =
| website = [https://www.facebook.com/DaVinciBat Official Facebook page]
| current_commander = Dmytro Filatov
| notable_commanders = Dmytro Kotsiubailo {{KIA}} (2016-2023)
| identification_symbol_2 =
| patron = Dmytro Kotsiubailo
| motto = Iron and Fire
| battles = Russo-Ukrainian War
}}
1st Separate Assault Regiment "Dmytro Kotsiubailo", also known as the Da Vinci Wolves, is a regiment of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.{{Cite news |date=2023-03-23 |title=War in Ukraine: The death of 'Da Vinci', and the shattered life of his partner Alina Mykhailova |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/03/23/war-in-ukraine-the-death-of-da-vinci-and-his-partner-alina-mykhailova-s-shattered-life_6020378_4.html |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=Le Monde.fr |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=1st Assault Regiment |url=https://militaryland.net/ukraine/armed-forces/da-vinci-wolves/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=MilitaryLand.net |language=en-US}}
History
The 1st Assault Company was established on 20 January 2014 as part of the 5th Battalion of Ukraine's Right Sector paramilitary wing.Thomas Gibbons-Neff: [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/05/world/europe/nazi-symbols-ukraine.html Nazi Symbols on Ukraine's Front Lines Highlight Thorny Issues of History] New York Times, 5 June 2023. It has been deployed in eastern Ukraine's combat zone since its creation.[https://pravda.if.ua/dobrovolchyj-pidrozdil-vovky-da-vinchi-rozrissya-vzhe-do-rozmiru-bataljonu-komandyr-dmytro-koczyubajlo/ Добровольський підрозділ «Вовки Да Вінчі», розрісся вже до розміру батальйону — командир Дмитро Коцюбайло], Pravda, 28.01.2023. On 17 March 2016, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, also known by his call sign "Da Vinci," was appointed commander of the unit, which became known as the "Da Vinci Wolves."{{Cite news |title=ДОБРОВОЛЬЧИЙ ПІДРОЗДІЛ “ВОВКИ ДА ВІНЧІ”, РОЗРІССЯ ВЖЕ ДО РОЗМІРУ БАТАЛЬЙОНУ – КОМАНДИР ДМИТРО КОЦЮБАЙЛО |url=https://pravda.if.ua/dobrovolchyj-pidrozdil-vovky-da-vinchi-rozrissya-vzhe-do-rozmiru-bataljonu-komandyr-dmytro-koczyubajlo/}}
In recognition of his service, Kotsiubailo was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine on 30 November 2021.{{cn|date=September 2023}} By 2022, the unit had expanded to battalion size and was reassigned to the 67th Mechanized Brigade. During the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine that year, the battalion participated in key battles, including those for Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Bilohorivka, Kherson Oblast, and the Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive.Б. Макалюк. [https://archive.today/20230228122237/https://vikna.tv/istorii/rozpovidi/dmytro-koczyubajlo-na-psevdo-da-vinchi-istoriya-vijskovogo/ Я на війні з 18 років: історія військового Да Вінчі, який брав участь у звільненні Балаклії], Вікна, 21.12.2022.А. Федченко. [https://novynarnia.com/2022/12/16/davinci/ «Ідемо правильним курсом, наступного року звільнимо Крим». Прогнози Героя України Дмитра Коцюбайла «Да Вінчі»], Новинарня, 16.12.2022.Т. Федоркова. [https://suspilne.media/304016-motivue-te-so-nas-cekaut-alina-mihajlova-z-pidrozdilu-vovki-da-vinci-pro-zvilnenna-harkivsini/ «Мотивує те, що нас чекають»: Аліна Михайлова з підрозділу «Вовки да Вінчі» — про звільнення Харківщини], Суспільне Новини, 27.10.2022.
On 7 March 2023, Commander Dmytro Kotsiubailo ("Da Vinci") was killed in action during the battles for Bakhmut.{{Cite web |last=Цензор.НЕТ |title=На Донбасі загинув Герой України, легендарний доброволець Дмитро Коцюбайло (Да Вінчі), - Зеленський."ВIДЕО |url=https://censor.net/ua/video_news/3404264/na_donbasi_zagynuv_geroyi_ukrayiny_legendarnyyi_dobrovolets_dmytro_kotsyubayilo_da_vinchi_zelenskyyi |accessdate=2023-03-07 |website=Цензор.НЕТ |language=uk}} In his honor, the battalion was renamed after him on 1 July 2023, becoming the "Hero of Ukraine Dmytro Kotsiubailo Battalion." On 6 February 2024, the unit announced a reorganization, placing it under the command of the 59th Assault Brigade.https://t.me/smertvorogy/810
By April 2024, following the complete restructuring of the 67th Mechanized Brigade, the battalion became fully independent from the brigade.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=24th Brigade forms Kharakternyky Battalion |url=https://militaryland.net/news/24th-brigade-forms-kharakternyky-battalion/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=MilitaryLand.net |language=en-US}} In April 2025, the battalion was further expanded to a regiment.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-05 |title=Da Vinci Battalion expands to regiment |url=https://militaryland.net/news/da-vinci-battalion-expands-to-regiment-size/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=MilitaryLand.net |language=en-US}}
One of its fighters was American ex-marine and cousin of JD Vance — Nate Vance.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Нейт Венс – двоюрідний брат Джей Ді Венса воював у складі "Вовків да Вінчі" в Україні |url=https://tsn.ua/ato/brat-viceprezidenta-ssha-i-kritika-ukrayini-di-vensa-voyuvav-u-skladi-vovkiv-da-vinchi-2783871.html |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=ТСН.ua |language=uk}}
Structure
As of 2025 the regiments's structure is as follows:
1st Separate Assault Regiment:
- Regiment's Headquarters
- 1st Assault Company
- 2nd Assault Company
- 3rd Assault Company
- Shkval Company
- Tank Company Da Vinci Wolves
- Artillery Battery
- Dyke Pole
- Fire Support Company
- Mortar Battery
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platoon
- Unmanned Ground Systems Platoon
- Sniper Platoon
- Engineering and Sapper Platoon
- Electronic Warfare Platoon
- Medical Platoon
Name history
- 108th Separate Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" named after Dmytro Kotsiubailo
- 1st Separate Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves"
- 1st Separate Assault Company of the DUK
Commanders/Prominent Members
Commanders:
- Junior Lieutenant Dmytro Kotsiubailo (17.03.2016 - 07.03.2023).[https://suspilne.media/komandyry-narodzheni-za-nezalezhnosti/ Командири, до перемоги!], Суспільне Новини.[https://esu.com.ua/article-77556 Коцюбайло Дмитро Іванович] / О. С. Іщенко // Енциклопедія Сучасної України [Електронний ресурс] / Редкол.: І. М. Дзюба, А. І. Жуковський, М. Г. Железняк [та ін.] ; НАН України, НТШ. – К. : Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України, 2022.
- Major Yurii Kapustiak (07.03.2023 – present){{Cite web|url=https://censor.net/ua/resonance/3427768/komandyr_1go_batalyionu_67oyi_brygady_yuriyi_kapustyak_pozyvnyyi_kapusta_z_1_lypnya_nash_pidrozdil_nosytyme|title=Командир 1-го батальйону 67-ої бригади Юрій Капустяк, позивний Капуста: "З 1 липня наш підрозділ носитиме ім’я Героя України Дмитра Коцюбайла, друга Да Вінчі"}}
- Lieutenant Serhii Filimonov (since 6 February 2024)
- Major Oleh Lototskyi – Chief of Staff of the 1st Battalion of the 67th Brigade
Prominent Members:
- Company "Honor" (2022) (commander Serhii Filimonov).[https://focus.ua/uk/voennye-novosti/556716-vovki-da-vinchi-shturmom-vzyali-poziciyu-vagnerivciv-v-rayoni-dorogi-na-bahmut-video-boyu «Вовки Да Вінчі» штурмом взяли позицію «вагнерівців» в районі дороги на Бахмут (відео бою)], Фокус, 23.03.2023.
- 2nd company "Dyke pole"{{cn|date=September 2023}}
- medical service "Ulf" (headed by Alina Mykhailova).{{cn|date=September 2023}}