The 68th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, named after Oleksa Dovbush, is undergoing a leadership transition as it continues operations in the Pokrovsk direction. The brigade will now be integrated into the Air Assault Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Semen Sykolov has been appointed as the new commander, taking over from Serhiy Tretyak, who previously served as the chief of staff for the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss.” Sykolov was formerly the chief of staff for the 25th Separate Airborne Dnipro Brigade.
While Tretyak has not yet been officially relieved of his duties, sources within the brigade have confirmed that troops have been informed of the upcoming change in leadership.
In addition to the leadership shift, the 68th Brigade will transition from the 9th Army Corps to the 8th Air Assault Corps. A source from the brigade expressed cautious optimism about the change, stating, “I don’t think anything will drastically change. We will still have to fight—hopefully, they won’t disband the brigade or completely alter the standards. We have no one to replace us, and we will continue to carry out our combat missions. There is definitely a shortage of forces in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
The 68th Brigade has been defending the Pokrovsk direction for nearly two years, having previously engaged in battles in the Vuhledar and Kupiansk areas.
The 68th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade in Ukraine is set to welcome a new commander as it shifts to the Air Assault Forces. This transition comes as the brigade continues its defense in the Pokrovsk area, highlighting ongoing operational challenges.