On May 6, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with soldiers to mark the Day of the Infantry of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As part of the ceremony, he presented state awards and battle flags—an annual tradition honoring this significant day for the Defense Forces. What made this year’s event particularly notable was the promotion of Oleksandr Bakulin, who, according to a presidential decree, has been appointed commander of the 19th Army Corps.
Colonel Oleksandr Bakulin has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Since 2022, he had commanded the 57th Motorized Brigade, and prior to that, he led the Presidential Brigade. Bakulin has taken part in numerous battles, including the fierce fighting for Bakhmut.
During the ceremony, Bakulin wore a new patch, unveiling for the first time the insignia of the 19th Army Corps. The emblem, redrawn by our contributor Davomme, is published here for the first time on MilitaryLand.
The decree also confirms that the 19th Army Corps falls under the authority of Operational Command South. This detail helps clarify one of the last remaining questions about the Defense Forces’ transition to a corps-based structure—specifically, whether the four Operational Commands (West, North, South, and East) would remain in place. The decree affirms that all Army Corps will report to the Operational Commands, rather than directly to the Ground Forces Command.
Currently, Operational Commands are responsible for preparing and supporting troops. When a unit loses combat effectiveness, it is returned to its respective Operational Command for recovery and reorganization. Under the new structure, this responsibility is expected to shift to the Army Corps themselves, while Operational Commands will focus solely on rear-area functions.
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