Ukrainian army brigade named after general of UNR
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named the 31st Brigade (president.gov.ua)
The 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been awarded an honorary title. It will now bear the name of Cornet General Leonid Stupnytskyi, the website of the President of Ukraine and the press service of the 31st Brigade report.
According to Decree No. 488/2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered that the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine be granted the honorary title "named after Cornet General Leonid Stupnytskyi," and henceforth be called the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Cornet General Leonid Stupnytskyi of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The brigade added that the honorary ribbon with the new title was handed to the brigade's commander, Serhii Smoliak, by the President during ceremonial events marking Ukrainian Statehood Day.
"We are honored to bear the name of an outstanding Ukrainian military figure who dedicated his life to the sacred cause of fighting for Ukraine's independence. We serve the Ukrainian people!" the brigade said in a statement.
What we know about Stupnytskyi
Leonid Stupnytskyi was one of the prominent Ukrainian military leaders during the time of the Ukrainian Revolution and World War II. He was born in the Zhytomyr region, received an agronomy degree in Kyiv, and served as an officer in the Russian Imperial Army during World War I.
From 1917 to 1921, Stupnytskyi served in the Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR). He participated in the First and Second Winter Campaigns, commanded a cavalry regiment, and developed combat operation plans.
In 1941, Stupnytskyi joined the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In 1943–1944, he headed the General Staff of UPA-North and founded officer training schools. He fought against both Soviet and Nazi forces.
On July 30 or during the night of August 5, 1944, Stupnytskyi was surrounded by an NKVD (Soviet secret police agency) unit near the village of Derman in the Rivne region. To avoid capture, he shot himself. After the war, the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council recognized his achievements and posthumously awarded him the rank of UPA Cornet General.
Earlier, the 203rd Training Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was renamed in honor of the fallen pilot Vladyslav Rykov.
In addition, Zelenskyy also previously granted the 36th Separate Marine Brigade the honorary title of Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi.
