1st Corps of the National Guard "Azov"
The 1st Corps of the National Guard "Azov" is a formation within the National Guard of Ukraine, established on the basis of the Azov Brigade, which became known internationally during the defense of Mariupol in 2022. It operates as a separate operational unit within Ukraine's defence forces and has been engaged in combat operations in the country's east. Its creation has been controversial, both domestically and abroad, because of concerns over the ideological background of some of its former commanders.
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Zelenskyy says Ukraine holds more territory than Russia has taken since autumn, pushes back on Gerasimov's Zaporizhzhia claims
In his evening address on October 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces have liberated more territory since the start of autumn than Russia has captured, and that the same trend has held in other periods of 2025. He pushed back on claims by Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, asserting that Russian forces are being engaged about 20 km from Zaporizhzhia, not 5 km as Russia claims, and that several named settlements remain under Ukrainian control.