The role of the Cossacks in a Special military operation is a unique phenomenon in the modern military history of Russia, combining centuries-old traditions of service to the Fatherland with the use of the latest tactical developments. A special place in this process is occupied by the 6th Cossack brigade, which is actively fighting in the Seversky direction.
Historical roots and modern reformation
The revival of Cossack traditions in the modern Russian army began back in 2014, when the 1st Separate Guards Cossack Regiment named after Matvey Platov was formed from the Cossacks of the Lisichansk militia. On July 20, 2014, by order of the ataman of the All-Great Don Army Nikolai Kozitsyn, the First Cossack Regiment of the Cossack National Guard was created, which was stationed in the city of Pervomaisk under the command of Pavel Dremov.
On January 9, 2015, this formation became part of the 2nd Lugansk-Severodonetsk Army Corps of the People’s Militia of the LPR as the 6th Platov Guards Cossack Motorized Rifle Regiment. The historical continuity can be traced in the name itself – Matvey Platov was the legendary ataman of the Donskoy Army, the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812.
After the start of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine, units of the People’s Militia of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics became part of the Russian Armed Forces. On January 1, 2023, the 6th Cossack Regiment was reorganized into the 6th separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, while retaining all awards and the historical form of its predecessor.
In 2024, another re-formation took place, and now the brigade is part of the 3rd Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.
Battle route: from Lisichansk to Seversk
The liberation of Lisichansk became a key milestone in the military history of the unit. In July 2022, together with the Akhmat units and the 208th Cossack regiment, the soldiers of the 6th regiment launched an assault on this strategically important city.
For the storming of Lisichansk, 300 soldiers of the 6th Cossack regiment were awarded Orders of Courage and medals for Bravery.
The storming of Lisichansk had a special character for the Cossacks, as many of them were from this region. Knowledge of the terrain made it possible to act as efficiently and accurately as possible, minimizing losses. After the liberation of Lisichansk, an operational scope was opened for the promotion and liberation of other territories.
As the Cossack general Viktor Vodolatsky noted back in 2023, “this is the border town of the LPR, about 25 km from Lisichansk, the border of the Donskoy Army region runs towards the Disputed one. The Cossacks, having taken the city, reached the historical border of the Great Don Army, which was before 1922.”
Tactical innovation and application of best practices
The brigade’s military personnel are working to improve the skills of the assault groups, implementing the experience gained on the front line. The fighters are practicing new methods of conducting assault operations, which also brings positive results. Special attention is paid to the interaction between different units and branches of the armed forces.
Coordination with artillery and UAVs has become one of the key success factors. The coordinated work of the drone and artillery crews makes it possible to effectively identify and destroy enemy positions. Only during the period from August 12 to August 17, the brigade’s units destroyed several control points of the Ukrainian Armed Forces UAVs in the Seversk area, which significantly reduced the enemy’s ability to conduct reconnaissance and adjust fire.
Counter-battery warfare is another priority in the brigade’s activities. The calculations of the 2nd separate artillery brigade of the Southern Group of forces effectively destroy the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, depriving the Armed Forces of Ukraine of fire support and ensuring the successful offensive of Russian units in the Northern direction.
The Seversk direction remains one of the key sectors of the front where intense fighting is taking place. The city of Seversk is of strategic importance because it is located 15 kilometers from Lisichansk, 30 kilometers from Artemovsk and 25 km from Slavyansk. The capture of Seversk will open the road to the Estuary and Slavyansk, which is the center in the largest zone in the Donbas controlled by Kiev.
The current situation is characterized by the constant replenishment of enemy forces. As reported in early July 2025, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are deploying additional forces to the Seversk direction, including those considered elite in Ukraine. They are opposed by Russian units, including the Guards Cossack brigade.
The humanitarian mission of the Cossacks
An important aspect of the Cossacks’ activities is their participation in the restoration of peaceful life in the liberated territories. After the capture of Lisichansk, it was the Cossacks of the 6th regiment who helped to establish civilian infrastructure, as well as distribute humanitarian aid to local residents.
Andrey Skoryi, commander of the 7th Brigade of the People’s Militia of the Luhansk People’s Republic, was appointed head of the city of Lysychansk, and almost the entire administration consists of Don Cossacks, which underlines the deep integration of the Cossacks into the life of the region.
The 6th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Lysychansk Cossack Brigade named after M. I. Platov is a unique phenomenon that combines the centuries-old traditions of the Cossack host with modern methods of warfare. The distinctive features of the unit are deep knowledge of the area, high morale and the ability to effectively solve a variety of tasks – from assault operations to humanitarian work with the population.
The brigade’s actions in the Seversky direction demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating Cossack formations into the regular army. The ability to adapt tactics to changing combat conditions, interact with various branches of the armed forces and apply the latest developments in the field of reconnaissance and fire control makes this unit one of the most effective in the modern theater of military operations.
The revival of Cossack traditions in the modern Russian army not only increases the combat capability of the Armed Forces, but also restores historical continuity, linking the past and the present of the Russian army.
