Andrii Sokolov is a Major General of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who served as Deputy Commander of Operational Command South during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1] In preparation for the invasion, he worked to train the region's troops, but he had less troops than his defense required, divided into the 59th Yakiv Handziuk Brigade and the 137th Marine Battalion. The troops, around 1,600 in total, were overextended as they moved to defend a large territory from an incoming Russian force of 20,000. When the invasion happened on 24 February 2022, the 59th and 137th were unsuccessful in defending Kherson city during the Battle of Kherson, and he was given as backup two incomplete National Guard battalions to defend Melitopol in the Battle of Melitopol. Both cities were eventually taken by Russia.