18 February 2026
The socio-political publication Intent has launched a series of videos dedicated to the figures of the South. The publication plans to cover many interesting topics, including the coverage of significant dates and activities of the South.
The first story in the series tells the story of the combat path of the Southern Operational Command, which recently celebrated its 11th anniversary. The first episode is already available on the media channel.
Serhiy Hutsaliuk, a senior officer of the moral support department of the 78th center of the PFP of the South, told how after February 24, 2022, the military defended Mykolaiv, restrained the enemy's advance in the battles for Bashtanka and Voznesensk and prevented the Russians from breaking through to Odesa. In the Kherson sector, the units fought heavy defensive battles, gaining time to prepare for the defense of Mykolaiv and Odesa regions.
The command directly planned and coordinated the operation to liberate Zmiinyi Island. After more than two months of fighting and massive strikes by Ukrainian artillery and aviation, the Russian military left the island on June 30, 2022, allowing shipping to resume to the ports of Odesa region.
In the fall of 2022, units of the "South" command took part in the Kherson offensive, which ended with the liberation of the right-bank part of the region and the regional center. In 2023, the military operated on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, and in 2024, they joined the offensive in other parts of the front.
The Southern Operational Command is an operational unit of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the southern part of Ukraine in five regions. The headquarters is located in the city of Odesa. Area of responsibility: Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson regions.
Also in January, theSouthern Operational Command opened a virtual museum. Currently, the museum has five virtual halls dedicated to the 17th, 19th and 20th Army Corps, the 30th Marine Corps and the Odesa Operational Tactical Group.
The museum is planned to be constantly updated with new exhibits and their stories. Serhiy Hutsalyuk, head of the Southern Interregional Department of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, historian, activist and soldier, contributed to its creation.
Анна Бальчінос