The 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade, previously part of the Ground Forces since 2022, has been unexpectedly reassigned to the Air Assault Forces. This transition includes a change in command from Colonel Serhiy Tretyak to Semen Sykolov, the chief of staff of the 25th Airborne Brigade.
According to three sources within the 68th Brigade, the announcement came as a surprise, with no clear explanation provided. One source mentioned, “We were informed that a directive would be issued, and we would become an airmobile brigade. The reasons were not disclosed. Either we performed well in the Pokrovsk direction and are being given a chance to develop within the Air Assault Forces, or we lost in some capacity.”
Another source expressed mixed feelings within the brigade, stating, “The guys from the 25th are young and sharp, and they have many plans. Morale is somewhat low; several key personnel are already looking for transfer opportunities. We will serve in a new capacity now, but we won’t lose hope; we were jaegers, and now we will be paratroopers.”
The reasons behind these changes remain unclear, but the 68th Brigade is expected to undergo reformatting, reinforcements, and potentially further personnel shifts. Former commander Serhiy Tretyak, who had only served in Ground Forces units prior, reportedly stepped down after the announcement regarding the brigade’s transition to the Air Assault Forces, stating, “I am not a paratrooper.” Tretyak had led the brigade for nearly two years, which included intense combat in and around Pokrovsk.
This change marks the third command shift in the Pokrovsk direction in recent months, following the removal of commanders from the 155th and 32nd brigades.
The 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade has been reassigned to the Air Assault Forces, accompanied by a leadership change. The reasons for this transition remain unclear, with expectations of further reorganization within the unit.