36th Marine Brigade
The marine brigade of the 2022 Mariupol defence, reconstituted after Azovstal; a symbol of the corps' wartime cost.
Broad area of activity
The Azov coast in 2022 (Mariupol); the southern front and Dnipro sectors since reconstitution.
Notable history
Fought the defence of Mariupol in 2022, ending at the Azovstal works with much of the brigade killed or captured — one of the war's defining episodes. Reconstituted and returned to the southern front, including the Dnipro operations of 2023–24.
Strengths
Formation identity forged by Mariupol gives it recruitment pull and cohesion despite catastrophic early losses.
Limitations
The original experienced core was largely lost in 2022; like all marine formations in this war it fights as line infantry.
Key events
Siege and fall of Mariupol
The defence of Mariupol ends at the Azovstal steelworks after months of encirclement; the city is largely destroyed.
Assessed as of2026-07Last reviewed2026-07
See this force in the structure Interactive: select this record and follow what connects to it.