Commander of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment Shares His Version of the Split in the 'Da Vinci' Battalion: Divergence in All Aspects

Dmytro Filatov, the commander of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment, known by the call sign 'Perun', has shared his insights regarding the division within the 'Da Vinci Wolves' battalion in an interview with 'Ukrainian Truth'. According to Filatov, the primary cause of this split was substantial disagreements over combat tactics and the future direction of the unit.

Filatov noted that in February 2024, a faction of soldiers led by Serhiy Filimonov and Alina Mykhailova expressed distrust towards the then-commander Yuriy Kapustyak. Despite this, during a vote, the majority of personnel supported Kapustyak, which acted as a catalyst for subsequent events.

Following the vote, Filatov stated that Filimonov and Mykhailova decided to leave the unit and continue their service separately. 'This division occurred due to differing visions of each party's objectives. They pursued their goals, and we pursued ours. Our perspectives diverged on practically everything… in combat operations, in the overall development of the units, and in the aims of that development. By the way, the division was democratic,' he remarked.

Filatov also revealed that both sides agreed on new names for their respective units: the faction remaining with Kapustyak would continue to use the name 'Da Vinci Wolves', while the other group would revert to the historical name '1st Separate Assault Battalion', which the unit had utilized since 2014 when it was formed by Dmytro Kotsyubailo.

He emphasized that the name 'Da Vinci Wolves' emerged later, during the full-scale invasion, when other formations joined the unit. Filatov expressed a desire for the unit to be named in honor of Dmytro Kotsyubailo, but this issue remains unresolved. 'We submitted a package of documents, coordinated this with Dmytro's family, to have our unit named 'after Dmytro Kotsyubailo'. This package is pending approval, but it is being blocked due to the influence of Alina Mykhailova in the public and, to some extent, political sphere,' he noted.

Filatov further stressed that, despite being military personnel currently defending the state, the issue of the unit's name is not being raised. 'However, after the war, it will be a pressing matter, as it offends the commanders and the guys who give their lives. It is important to preserve the memory of the young man who was the foundation and focal point for the emergence of this unit,' he added.

Additionally, Filatov discussed a conflict related to the unit's base, where trophy equipment was stored. He claims that part of the property was removed, after which his unit occupied the base. According to him, Kotsyubailo's personal belongings were returned to his family. 'This base was officially leased by our unit (the 1st Separate Mechanized Battalion of the 67th Brigade). A significant volume of trophy weapons was stored there. There was a verbal agreement with Serhiy Filimonov that this base was under their supervision, and we would divide the trophy weapons equally so that everyone could continue fighting,' he explained.

However, Filatov stated that one night, while the base was under Filimonov's oversight, trophy cannons, an armored personnel carrier, and two 'Urals' were stolen. 'One of these cannons I personally acquired as a trophy; the APC was also captured in battle by our group. These were trophies that our collective had earned. This was done deliberately. And I am convinced that Filimonov and the others took everything,' he emphasized, noting that after this incident, his unit occupied the base and expelled their former comrades.

To understand the context of these events, it is essential to recall that on March 7, 2023, a volunteer from the DUK 'Right Sector', Hero of Ukraine, 27-year-old Dmytro Kotsyubailo, known by the call sign 'Da Vinci', was killed at the front. In February 2024, the 'Da Vinci Wolves' battalion, previously led by Kotsyubailo, joined the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk and announced the appointment of a new commander. Mykhailova commented that the reason for the transition was purely military, noting that most fighters who had fought with Kotsyubailo since the beginning of 2014 had moved to the 59th Brigade.