Right Sector Paramilitary Wing Resumes Operations

In recent weeks, a notable development has taken place within the Right Sector and its formerly prominent paramilitary wing, the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps. Right Sector has officially announced the revival of its activities, reactivating several Sotnyas across Ukraine for the first time in years.

History of Ukrainian Volunteer Corps

Founded in 2014 by Dmytro Yarosh, the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps served as the paramilitary wing of the Right Sector and fought alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the war in Donbas. In November 2022, it was reformatted into the 67th Mechanized Brigade to help settle them inside the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The Ukrainian Volunteer Corps played a key role in some of the fiercest and most pivotal battles of the war in Donbas, including Sloviansk, Donetsk Airport, Shyrokyne, Avdiivka, and others. Likewise, the 67th Mechanized Brigade has fought on multiple fronts, notably in Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar.

The brigade was later restructured in 2024 following some controversies and issues, leading to the core of the brigade being disbanded and Right Sector fighters dispersed, joining other units. Some of the most prominent units inside the Ukrainian Armed Forces that are linked to the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps is the 1st Assault Regiment “Da Vinci” as part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, the 108th Assault Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves”, as part of the 59th Assault Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 159th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Reactivation of Reserve Sotnyas

Now, Right Sector is reviving parts of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps. On June 21, 2025, they announced the reformation of two Sotnyas. This included the 2nd and the 16th Sotnyas.

The 2nd Sotnya was reformed following a gathering of the Right Sector’s National Liberation Movement. Roman Zayets, call sign “Lev”, has been appointed as the commander. The unit’s headquarters and command staff are now operational and are actively recruiting in Lviv. Similarly, the 16th Sotnya in Bukovyna, based in Chernivtsi, has also resumed operations. Commanded by Serhiy Vorotnyak, call sign “Samurai”, the unit has already brought together a mix of war veterans and ideologically motivated youth and is actively recruiting.

On June 22, 2025, another Sotnya was announced to have been reactivated by Andriy Stempitskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps. The 20th Sotnya is being reactivated in Sumy Oblast. It was named in honor of Serhiu Tabala, call sign “Sever”, a young fighter who became a national symbol of resistance. The unit declares its mission as a continuation of the 2014 volunteer ethos, emphasizing readiness, discipline, and defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty. Recruitment is currently ongoing.

While these reactivations are in their formative stages, the return of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps’ Sotnyas is a symbolic resurgence of Ukraine’s wartime volunteer tradition. It reflects a continued desire to operate outside the formal command structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, albeit in close cooperation.