Ground Forces Of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Ground Forces ( uk, Сухопу́тні військá Збрóйних сил Украї́ни), also known as the Ukrainian Army, are the land forces of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They were formed from Soviet Ground Forces formations, units, and establishments, including three military districts (the Kyiv, Carpathian, and Odesa Military Districts), that were on Ukrainian soil when the Soviet Union collapsed.

After Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine retained its Soviet-era army equipment. The Armed Forces were systematically downsized after 1991 and as a result, it was largely dilapidated by July 2014.In the Army Now: Answering Many Why's
, The Ukrainian Week (8 July 2014) Since the start of the war in Donbas in April 2014 in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine embarked on a program to enlarge and modernize its Armed Forces.Poroshenko says military hardware will bring Ukraine's victory closer
, Interfax-Ukraine (24 August 2016) Its size of 129,950 in March 2014 had grown to 204,000 active personnel in May 2015, with the Ground Forces branch having 169,000 soldiers as of 2016. In 2016, 75% of the army consisted of contract servicemen.Ukrainian army composed of 75% contract servicemen - president
, Interfax-Ukraine (24 August 2016) Ukraine's ground forces have also received more modern tanks, APCs, and many other types of combat equipment.

History

Prior to the October Revolution of 1917, three separate self-governing Ukrainian states existed on what is Ukraine today. Each of these states possessed armed forces. The largest of these, the Ukrainian People's Republic, itself comprised three separate regimes. The Ukrainian People's Army is an example of one of the early national armed forces. Other armed independence movements existed in the wake of both the First World War and the Second World War, and these armies each had distinct organisation and uniforms. These armed forces, and the independent Ukrainian homeland for which they fought, were eventually incorporated into the neighboring states of Poland, Soviet Union, Hungary, Romania and Czechoslovakia.

Collapse of the USSR

Upon their establishment in 1991, the Armed Forces of Ukraine included approximately 780,000 personnel, 7,000 armored vehicles, 6,500 tanks, and 2,500 tactical nuclear missiles. A problem that Ukraine faced was that while it had vast armed forces, it lacked a proper command structure. On 24 August 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified a resolution taking control of all military units of the former Soviet Armed Forces situated on the territory of Ukraine. This established the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Creation of the Ground Forces

Following the declaration of Ukrainian independence in 1991, Ukraine inherited the 1st Guards Army, 13th Army, 38th Army, two tank armies (the 6th Guards Tank Army and the 8th Tank Army), and the 32nd Army Corps at Simferopol. The 28th Guards Motor Rifle Division and the 180th Rifle Division were left in Ukraine, having been previously under the 14th Guards Army headquartered at Tiraspol in the Moldovan SSR. The post of commander of ground troops was designated in early 1992. By the end of 1992, the Kyiv Military District disbanded, and Ukraine used its structures as the basis for the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff.

Between June and August 1993, the first redesignation of armies to army corps appears to have taken place. While the chief of ground forces post had been created in early 1992, it was over two years before the first holder, Colonel General Vasily Sobkov, was appointed on 7 April 1994. The legal framework for the Ground Forces was defined in Article 4 of the law 'On the Armed Forces of Ukraine.' At that time, the Ground Forces had no separate command body, and were directly subordinate to the Ukrainian General Staff.
The creation of the Ground Forces as a separate armed service was enacted by Presidential Decree 368/96 of 23 May 1996, 'On the Ground Forces of Ukraine.' That year both the Ground Forces Command was formed and the 1st Army Corps was reorganised as the Northern Territorial Operational Command (which became the Northern Operational Command in 1998). In 1997 the Carpathian Military District was reorganised as the Western Operational Command.From 1992 to 1997, the forces of the Kyiv MD were transferred to the Odessa MD, and the Odessa MD's headquarters moved to Donetsk. A new 2nd Army Corps was formed in the Odessa MD. Armies were converted to army corps, and motor rifle divisions converted into mechanised divisions or brigades. Pairs of attack helicopter regiments were combined to form army aviation brigades.

President Leonid Kuchma revealed in a December 1996 speech that as many as 191 mechanised infantry and tank battalions were rated not ready, adding,"This is especially dangerous in the forward-based units securing the nation's borders."

Reform

Under a plan promulgated in 2000 the Ground Forces were to reduce the number of troops from the then 300,000 to 240,000 by 2015, and an ultimate change from a partial conscript-based force to a fully professional military. The Armed Forces received little more than half of the Hr 68 million it was promised for reform in 2001, but managed to disband nine regiments and close 21 local military bases.

In 2005–06, the Northern Operational Command was reorganised as Territorial Directorate "North". It was tasked with territorial defence, mobilisation training, and preparation of reserves.

From 1991 the Ukrainian Ground Forces bought its military equipment only from Russia and other CIS states, as well as locally producing some of their own equipment.Ukraine must stop importing Russian weapons, switch to NATO standards
, Interfax-Ukraine (18 December 2014) Until 2014 and the start of the war in Donbas, the defence industry in Ukraine produced equipment mostly for export.Ukraine crisis timeline
, BBC News

Russian occupation of Crimea

In the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, Russian special forces in unmarked uniforms began surrounding Ukrainian military bases on the Crimean peninsula before capturing them individually using a mixture of attrition and threats. Over the following weeks the Russian Armed Forces consolidated control of the peninsula and established road blocks to cut off the possibility of Ukraine sending reinforcements from the mainland. The takeover of Crimea was largely bloodless, as the Ukrainian soldiers didn't retaliate. By the end of March, all remaining Ukrainian troops were ordered to pull out of Crimea.

The Ukrainian Army was considered to be in a poor state during and after the annexation, with only 6,000 of its troops ready for combat and many of its vehicles lacking batteries. After Russia's annexation only 6,000 of the 20,300 Ukrainian soldiers stationed in Crimea before the annexation left the peninsula. The rest stayed in Crimea and defected to Russia.

Russo-Ukrainian War

War in Donbas (2014–2022)

In the early months of the war in Donbas that erupted in 2014 the Armed Forces were widely criticised for their poor equipment and inept leadership, forcing Internal Affairs Ministry forces like the National Guard and the territorial defence battalions to take on the brunt of the fighting in the first months of the war.

By February 2018 the Ukrainian armed forces were larger and better equipped, numbering 200,000 active-service military personnel. Most of the volunteer soldiers of the territorial defence battalions were integrated into the official Ukrainian army.

Within the reporting period of 16 November 2017 to 15 February 2018 a United Nations OHCHR monitoring mission documented 115 cases of credible allegations of human rights abuses committed on both sides of the contact line.Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 November 2017 to 15 February 2018 "Within the reporting period, OHCHR documented 115 cases of credible allegations of unlawful or arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment and/or sexual violence committed on both sides of the contact line."
, OHCHR (page 6) The nature of the crimes ranges from enforced disappearances, looting of civilian property, torture, rape and sexual violence up to political repression and extrajudicial killings.

Full-scale Russian invasion

On 24 February 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Ground Forces have been participants of most of the land combat actions of the current war. The influx of Western materiel and supplies to the branch before and during the conflict as well as mobilization efforts have resulted in a massive expansion of the force, in addition to ongoing force modernization.

Military training and education centers

Training in 2006 was aimed at developing mobility and combat readiness of the forces. The Ukrainian armed forces took advantage of the opportunities provided by UN exercises and exercises where Ukraine and NATO nations and other partners participated.

Training resulted in 6,000 combat-ready troops in the spring of 2014 of Ukraine's (then) 129,950 active military personnel. In 2016 the Ukrainian army had more than 200,000 combat-ready soldiers of its 260,000 active personnel.Ukrainian army struggling with its training system
, Kyiv Post (14 September 2016)

In 2015 Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada established the Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine (JMTG-U) and they set up three new training sites, in Khmelnytskyi, Kamianets-Podilskyi, and Yavoriv. The latter, known as the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security or the Yavoriv Combat Training Center, was hit by eight Russian missiles in March 2022.

It appears that the SAS has left behind forces to train Ukrainian soldiers. At least two of the officers from the SAS were confirmed as having been in Ukraine. Each posted with a different battalion near Kyiv. There emphasis has been training Ukrainian soldiers how to use the Anglo-Swedish NLAW. Other soldiers have actually been trained in the UK, according to the article. It would appear that the training course is approximately two weeks long for each participant.

This follows an earlier report of UK special forces being left behind in Ukraine. This includes the SAS, Special Boat Service and Special Reconnaissance Regiment. The other contributors appear to be unnamed special forces from Eastern European countries. These forces are training the Ukrainian military in sabotage, counter-insurgency and sniping.

Education centers

In 2007 the system of exercise/training ranges was optimized, decreasing their number and providing a specialized role.

Schooling occurs at:
* 169th Training Center – (Chernihiv) – Home to army initial training, for all personnel entering the Army, it also houses the 169th Teaching Brigade which specializes in the tactics and skills of tankers and mechanized/motorized infantrymen.
* Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy – (Lviv) – Is an academy for all officer cadets seeking a commission, an equivalent of the American West Point and British Sandhurst.
* Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine – (Kyiv – Teaches specializations like foreign languages, book keeping, cryptology, study of armaments, logistics, etc.
* Ivan Bohun Military High School – (Kyiv) – A JROTC style boarding school which has a curriculum identical to Ukraine's public schools with added focus on military teachings and discipline.
* Korolev Signals Institute – (Zhytomyr) – Teaches theory and practice of electromagnetic waves and their uses in communication, radio location, eavesdropping, and jamming.
* Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies – (Kyiv) – Teaches the subjects: Computer Science, Systems engineering, Telecommunications, Security Information and Communication Systems, Systems of technical protection of information, Electronic military administration.
* Odessa Artillery Academy

Training ranges are at:

Branches of the Ground Forces

Armoured and mechanised forces

Mechanised Infantry and armoured forces are the primary components of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Their primary objectives in case of war are capturing and holding targets, maintaining positions, defending against attack, penetrating enemy lines and defeating enemy forces.

The mechanised and armoured forces are equipped with a combination of Soviet-made (part of them modernized) and modern Ukrainian armored vehicles which includes T-80, T-64, (T-64BV Model 2017, T-64BV), T-64BM "Bulat" and T-72UA1 main battle tanks, BTR-4, BTR-60, BTR-70 and BTR-80 wheeled armored personnel carriers and BMP-1, BMP-2 and BMD-2 infantry combat vehicles.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, a large number of the previous Soviet mechanised formations on Ukrainian soil have been disbanded – the IISS says totals have dropped from 14 divisions, in 1992, to two divisions, six brigades, and one independent regiment in 2008. Today, all mechanised and armoured formations are called brigades.

Mountain and Jager Brigades

The Ukrainian Ground Forces also include two mountain infantry brigades and the newly formed 61st Jager brigade, reformed from the 61st Motorized Infantry in 2019.

* 10th Mountain Brigade
* 128th Mountain Brigade
* 61st Jager Infantry Brigade
* 68th Jager Infantry Brigade (Reserve) (Formed in early 2022 in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine)
* 71st Jager Infantry Brigade (Reserve) (Formed in early 2022 in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine)

Army Aviation

Army Aviation provides reconnaissance, tactical fire support and air transport for the Ukrainian Ground Forces. As of 2017 Ukraine's army fields four Army Aviation brigades in an Army Aviation Command directly subordinated to the Ground Forces HQ:

* 11th Army Aviation Brigade, Kherson
* 12th Army Aviation Brigade, Novyi Kalyniv
* 16th Army Aviation Brigade, Brody
* 18th Army Aviation Brigade, Poltava

The Army Aviation's maintenance facility is the 57th Aviation Base in Brody. The service's equipment includes: Mi-2, Mi-8, Mi-9, Mi-24 and Mi-26 helicopters.

Rocket Forces and Artillery

Army Air Defence

The Army Air Defence units are responsible for protecting troops against enemy air attacks anywhere on the battlefield, and while in combat. The Ukrainian Ground Forces army air defence branch is equipped with a variety of effective surface-to-air missile systems of division level and anti-aircraft missile and artillery complexes of regiment level. Regiment level units are characterized by their high rate of fire, vitality, maneuverability, and capability of action under all conditions of modern combat arms operations. Surface-to-air missile systems and complexes of division level are characterized by their long range and firepower and are equipped with surface-to-air missile complexes; S-300V, Osa, Buk, Buk-M1 and Tor. While anti-aircraft missile and artillery complexes that are of regiment level are equipped with the Tunguska-M1, Igla MANPADS system, Strela, and Shilka anti-aircraft missile systems.The army's only separate radar system, meaning it isn't a part of any anti-aircraft system, is the Ukrainian Kolchuga-M. It was designed sometime between the years 1993–1997, the system is said to be one of the most advanced passive sensors in the world, as it is claimed to be able to detect stealth aircraft.

Structure

The Donbas war caused a radical reform of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the general and the Ukrainian Ground Forces in particular. It built and expanded on the 2011 structure. As of 2022 the structure is the following:

Ground Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Military Unit UА0105), Kyiv.

Senior command personnel:

* Commander of the Ground Forces: General/Lieutenant-General
* Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces: Lieutenant-General/Major-General
* Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces: Major-General
* Commander of Territorial Defence Forces of the Ground Forces Command: Major-General
* Commander of Logistics of the Ground Forces Command: Brigadier General
* Chief Sergeant-Major of the Ground Forces: Command Master Sergeant

Formations and units directly subordinated to the Ground Forces Command:

* 1004th Security and Service Battalion (MU А1937) - Kyiv
* President's Own uardsBrigade ''' Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky (MU А0222) - Kyiv
* 148th Intelligence Command Center (MU А0189) - Kyiv
* 96th Intelligence Center for Surveillance of Radio-Emitting Space Objects (MU А2571) - Velykyi Dalnyk, Odessa Oblast
* 169th Mobile Repair Technical Base (MU А1405) - Kanatove railway station near Vysoki Bairaky, Kirovohrad Oblast
* 3568th Air Defence Technical Missile Base (MU А4009) - Starokostiantyniv, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
* other units
* Missile Troops and Artillery of the Ground Forces - Commander of Missile Troops and Artillery and Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces: Lieutenant-General/Major-General
** 19th Missile ''Zaporozhian'' Brigade '''Saint Barbara (MU А4239) - Khmelnytskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, armed with the Tochka-U missile complex
** 107th Rocket Artillery Brigade (MU А1546) - Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, armed with the Vilkha missile complex
** 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade ''' Kish Otaman Petro Kalnyshevsky (MU А1476) - Sumy, Sumy Oblast, armed with the BM-27 Uragan
** 43rd Artillery Brigade ''' Hetman Taras Triasylo (MU А3085) - Divichki Pereyaslav village near Pyriatyn, Kyiv Oblast, armed with the 2S7 Pion
** 15th Rocket Artillery ''Kyiv'' Regiment (MU А1108) - Drohobych, Lviv Oblast, armed with the BM-30 Smerch
* Army Aviation Directorate of the Ground Forces Command - Chief of Army Aviation of the Ground Forces Command — Major-General
** 8th Army Aviation Command Post (MU А1710) - Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
** 11th Army Aviation Brigade '''Kherson (MU А1604) — Chornobayivka Air Base near Kherson, Kherson Oblast - Mi-24, Mi-8, Mi-2
** 12th Army Aviation Brigade '''Major-General Viktor Pavlenko (MU А3913) — Novyi Kalyniv, Lviv Oblast - Mi-24, Mi-26, Mi-8/9
** 16th Army Aviation Brigade ''' Brody (MU А2595) - Brody, Lviv Oblast - Mi-24, Mi-8, Mi-2
** 18th Army Aviation Brigade ''' Igor Sikorsky (MU А3384) - Poltava, Poltava Oblast - Mi-24, Mi-8, Mi-2
** 57th Aviation Base or maintenance, repair and supply of the army aviation(MU А3595) - Brody, Lviv Oblast
* Territorial Defence Forces Command - Commander of Territorial Defence orcesof the Ground Forces Command — Major-General
** Information and Telecommunications Nod of the TDFC - Kyiv
** support units directly subordinated to the TDFC
** four territorial defence directorates under the four regional commands of the ground forces. Manoeuver elements include territorial defence brigades, made up of territorial defence battalions and support units and stand-alone separate rifle battalions. Each Ukrainian oblast is covered by its own Territorial Defence Zone, which commands one separate territorial defence brigade and one separate rifle battalion of higher mobility and readiness. In January 2022 the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has publicised information about its plans for the expansion of the territorial defence forces. The composition of the Territorial Defende Forces (''Сил ТрО ЗСУ'') should reach 25 brigades for the 25 regions ('''один регіон – одна бригада''', English: 'one region – one brigade', for the 24 Oblasts and the capitol city of Kyiv) with up to 150 battalions ('''один батальйон на район or 'one battalion per raion') for a peacetime strength of up to 10 000 people and over 130 000 upon wartime mobilisation.

Educational institutions

Training establishments units directly subordinated to the Ground Forces Command:

* National Academy of the Ground Forces '''Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi - Lviv, Lviv Oblast
** officer cadets training establishments:
*** Faculty of Combat Application of the Forces
*** Faculty of Combined Arms
*** Faculty of Missile Troops and Artillery
*** Faculty for Preparation of Combat (Operational) Support Specialists
** NCO Personnel Military College
** International Peacekeeping and Security Center (MU А4150)
** Combat Training Center for Military Units
*** Opposing Force Battalion
*** Imitation and Modelling Simulation Center
** 184th Training Center (MU А2615) - Starichi village, Lviv Oblast
*** 355th Mechanized Training Regiment (MU А3211)
*** Tank Training Battalion
*** 356th Artillery Training Regiment (MU А3618)
**** School of Self-Propelled Artillery
**** School of Towed Artillery
**** School of Anti-Tank Artillery
**** Mortar School
*** 49th Intelligence Training Center (MU А4138)
*** Engineer Training Battalion
*** Imitation and Modelling Simulation Center
*** 138th Logistical Training Battalion (MU А2600)
*** School for Initial and Refresher Training of Fire-Fighting Specialists
*** other departments (''інші підрозділи'')
* Odessa Military Academy - Odessa, Odessa Oblast
* Armoured Forces Military Institute ''' Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine''' - Military Faculty of the '''Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute National Technical University
* 169th Training Centre, Desna
** 300th Tank Training Regiment
** 354th Mechanized Training Regiment
** 6th Artillery Training Regiment, Divychky
** 507th Maintenance Training Battalion
** 718th Transport Training Battalion
** 1121st Anti-aircraft Missile Artillery Training Regiment
** , Starychi
**
** 355th Mechanized Training Regiment
** 356th Artillery Training Regiment
** Tank Training Battalion
** 138th Material Supply Training Battalion
** Anti-Tank Missile Specialists School
** other units

Operational Command West

The Operational Command West (MU А0796) is headquartered in Rivne and has an area of responsibility covering the Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi Oblasts.

Headquarters, Rivne

Combat support units:
*7th Combat Command Group, Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* 394th Security and Service Battalion, Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* 224th Automobile Battalion, Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* 55th Signals Regiment, Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* 346th Information and Telecommunications Nod
* 146th Intelligence Command Center
* Regional Center for Electronic Intelligence '''West
* 436th Electronic Warfare Nod
* 201st Electronic Warfare Company
* 111th NBC Surveillance and Analysis Station
* 124th Joint Logistical Support Center
* 146th Repair and Overhaul Regiment, Zolochiv
* 182nd Material Supply Battalion
* 233rd Combined Arms Training Range
* 90th Base for Artillery Ammunitions
* other specialised and logistical units
* Military comissariates
* Territorial centers for recruitment and social policy implementation

Combat units:
* 14th Mechanized Brigade ''' Roman the Great (MU A2331), Volodymyr-Volynsky, Volyn Oblast
* 24th Mechanized Brigade ''' King Daniel (MU A0998), Yavoriv, Lviv Oblast
* 10th Mountain Assault Brigade (MU A4267), Kolomyia, Ivano Frankivsk Oblast
* 128th Mountain Assault '''Zakarpattia Brigade (MU A1556), Mukachevo, Zakarpattia Oblast
* 44th Artillery Brigade ''' Danylo Apostol (MU A1428), Ternopil, Ternopil Oblast
* 39th Air Defence Missile Regiment, Volodymyr-Volynsky, Volyn Oblast
* 703rd Operational Support ngineerRegiment, Sambir, Lviv Oblast
* 130th Reconnaissance Battalion, Dubno, Rivne Oblast

Territorial defence units:

Regional Directorate f Territorial Defence'''West''', Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* Information and Telecommunications Nod of Regional Directorate '''West, Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* Security and Service Company of Regional Directorate '''West, Rivne, Rivne Oblast
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Volyn Oblast
** 2nd Rifle Battalion
** 100th '''Volyn Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7028)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Rivne Oblast
** 14th Rifle Battalion
** 104th '''Rivne Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7032)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Lviv Oblast
** 10th Rifle Battalion
** 103rd '''Lviv Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7031)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Ternopil Oblast
** 16th Rifle Battalion
** 105th '''Ternopil Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7033)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Khmelnytsky Oblast
** 19th Rifle Battalion
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Zakarpattia Oblast
** 5th Rifle Battalion
** 101st '''Zakarpattian Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7029)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
** 7th Rifle Battalion
** 102nd '''Ivano-Frankivsk Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7030)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Chernivtsi Oblast
** 21st Rifle Battalion
** 107th '''Chernivtsi Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7035)

Operational Command North

The Operational Command North (MU 4583) is headquartered in Chernihiv and has an area of responsibility covering the Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Cherkasy and Chernihiv Oblasts and the capital city of Kyiv.

Headquarters, Chernihiv

Combat support units:

*9th Combat Command Group, Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
*134th Security and Service Battalion (MU А1624), Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
*226th Automobile Battalion (MU А2927), Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Oblast
*5th Signal Regiment (MU А2995), Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
*367th Information and Telecommunications Nod (MU А2984), Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
*90th Intelligence Command Center
*Regional ELINT Center '''North (MU А2622), Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
**121st Maneuver ELINT Center (MU А1783), Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
**122nd ELINT Center (MU А1993), Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast
*20th Electronic Warfare Battalion (MU А1262), Zhytomyr, Zhytomyr Oblast
*12th Operational Support ngineerRegiment (MU А3814), Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr Oblast
*107th NBC Surveillance and Analysis Station
*125th Topographic Unit
*229th Joint Logistical Support Center
*50th Repair and Overhaul Regiment (MU А1586), Huiva, Zhytomyr Oblast
*181st Material Supply Battalion (MU A2925), Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr Oblast
*other specialised and logistical units
*1322nd Artillery Ammunitions Base
*242nd Combined Arms Training Range
*Military comissariates (''військові комісаріати'')
* Territorial centers for recruitment and social policy implementation

Combat units:

* 1st Tank Brigade ''' Severia (MU А1815), Honcharivske, Chernihiv Oblast
* 12th Tank Battalion (MU А0932), Honcharivske, Chernihiv Oblast
* 30th Mechanized Brigade ''' Knyaz Konstanty Ostrogski (MU A0409), Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr Oblast
* 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade ''' Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky (MU А1376), Konotop, Sumy Oblast
* 61st Jager Infantry Brigade ' ''Stepov''' (MU unidentified), Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast
* 72nd Mechanized Brigade ''' Black Zaporizhians (MU А2167), Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast область
* 26th Artillery Brigade ''' Major-General Roman Dashkevich (MU А3091), Berdychiv, Zhytomyr Oblast
* 1129th ''Bila Tserkva'' Air Defence Missile Regiment (MU А1232), Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast
* 54th Reconnaissance Battalion '''Mykhailo Tisha (MU А2076), Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr Oblast
* possibly a security company based at Kyiv Boryspil Airport

Territorial defence units:
Regional Directorate f Territorial Defence'''North''', Kyiv

* Information and Telecommunications Nod of Regional Directorate '''North, Kyiv
* Security and Service Company of Regional Directorate '''North, Kyiv
* Territorial Defence Zone of the City of Kyiv
** ? Rifle Battalion
** 112th '''City of Kyiv Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7040)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Kyiv Oblast
** 8th Rifle Battalion
** 114th '''Kyiv Oblast Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7042)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Zhytomyr Oblast
** 4th Rifle Battalion
** 115th '''Zhytomyr Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7043)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Poltava Oblast
** 13th Rifle Battalion
** 116th '''Poltava Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7044)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Sumy Oblast
** 15th Rifle Battalion
** 117th '''Sumy Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7045)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Cherkasy Oblast
** 20th Rifle Battalion
** 118th '''Cherkasy Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7046)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Chernihiv Oblast
** 22nd Rifle Battalion
** 119th '''Chernihiv Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7047)

Operational Command South

The Operational Command South (MU 2393) is headquartered in Odesa and has an area of responsibility covering the Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson Oblasts.

Headquarters, Odesa

Combat support units:

* 10th Combat Command Group, Odesa, Odesa Oblast
* 363rd Security and Service Battalion (MU А1785), Odessa, Odesa Oblast
* 225th Automobile Battalion, Odesa, Odessa Oblast
* 7th Signal Regiment (MU А3783), Odesa, Odessa Oblast
* 64th Information and Telecommunications Nod (MU А1283), Odesa, Odesa Oblast
* 91st Intelligence Command Center (MU А2152)
* Regional ELINT Center '''South (MU А3438)
** 78th ELINT Center (MU А2395)
** 79th ELINT Center (MU А2412)
** 82nd Manoeuver ELINT Center (MU А2444)
* 23rd Electronic Warfare Company
* 16th Operational Support ngineerRegiment
* 108th NBC Surveillance and Analysis Station
* 46th Joint Logistical Support Center
* 31st Repair and Overhaul Regiment
* 183rd Material Supply Battalion
* 1513th Artillery Ammunitions Base
* 235th Joint Forces for Preparation of Military Units and Sub-Units
* 241st Combined Arms Training Range
* other specialised and logistical units
* Military comissariates
* Territorial centers for recruitment and social policy implementation

Combat units:

* 28th Mechanized Brigade ''' Participants in the First Winter Campaign (MU А0666), Chornomorske, Odesa Oblast
* 56th Motorized Infantry ''' Mariupol Brigade (MU А0989), Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast
* 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade ''' Kosh otaman Kost Hordiyenko (MU В4533), Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast
* 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade '''Yakіv Gandzyuk (MU А1619), Haisyn, Vinnytsia Oblast
* 40th Artillery Brigade 'Grand Knyaz Vytautas' (MU А2227), Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast
* 38th Air Defence Missile Regiment '''Major-General Yuriy Tyutyunnyk (MU А3880), Nova Odesa, Mykolaiv Oblast
* 131st Reconnaissance Battalion (MU В1109), Gushchintsy, Vinnytsia Oblast
* 143rd Reconnaissance Battalion (MU В1053), unidentified location, Mykolaiv Oblast

Territorial defence units:

Regional Directorate f Territorial Defence'''South''', Odessa, Odessa Oblast

*Information and Telecommunications Nod of Regional Directorate '''South, Odessa, Odessa Oblast
* Security and Service Company of Regional Directorate '''South, Odessa, Odessa Oblast
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Vinnytsia Oblast
**1st Rifle Battalion
**120th '''Vinnytsia Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7048)
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Kirovohrad Oblast
**9th Rifle Battalion
**121st '''Kirovohrad Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7049)
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Odessa Oblast
**12th Rifle Battalion
**122nd '''Odessa Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7051)
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Mykolaiv Oblast
**11th Rifle Battalion
**123rd '''Mykolaiv Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7052)
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Kherson Oblast
**18th Rifle Battalion
**124th '''Kherson Territorial Defence Brigade (cadred) (MU А7053)

Operational Command East

The Operational Command East (MU 1314) is headquartered in Dnipro and has an area of responsibility covering Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Kharkiv Oblasts with the Russian-occupied territory of the Crimea nominally attached to it as the Separate Ground Forces Area (''Окремий військово-сухопутний район''). OC East is the general command responsible for frontline regular UGF formations fighting in the War in Donbas and the current Russian invasion.

Headquarters, Dnipro (as the result of war in Donbas, a split from the OC "South")

Combat support units:

* 8th Combat Command Group,
* 133rd Security and Service Battalion (MU А3750), Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
*227th Automobile Battalion (MU А1823), Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* 121st Signal Regiment (MU А1214), Cherkaske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* 368th Information and Telecommunications Nod (MU А2326), Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* 188th Intelligence Command Center
* Regional ELINT Center '''East
*502nd Electronic Warfare Battalion (MU А1828), Cherkaske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
*91st Operational Support ngineerRegiment (MU А0563), Okhtyrka, Sumy Oblast
* 102nd NBC Surveillance and Analysis Station (''102 розрахунково-аналітична станція'')
*532nd Repair and Overhaul Regiment (MU А3336)
*218th Joint Logistical Support Center
*78th Material Supply Battalion (MU В4756), Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
*222nd Central Artillery Ammunitions Base
*239th Combined Arms Training Range
*other specialised and logistical units
*Military commissariats
* Territorial centers for recruitment and social policy implementation

Combat units:

* 17th ''Kryvyi Rih'' Tank Brigade '''Konstantin Pestushko (MU А3283), Kryvyi Rih
* 53rd Mechanized Brigade ''' Knyaz Vladimir Monomakh (MU А0536), Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast
* 54th Mechanized Brigade ''' Hetman Ivan Mazepa (MU А0693), Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast
* 92nd Mechanized Brigade ''' Kosh otaman Ivan Sirko (MU А0501), Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast
* 93rd Mechanized Brigade '''Kholodny Yar (MU А1302), Cherkaske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* 55th Artillery Brigade ''' Zaporozhian Sich (MU А1978), Zaporizhia, Zaporizhzhia Oblast
* 1039th Air Defence Missile Regiment (MU А1964), Hvardiiske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* 74th Reconnaissance Battalion (MU А1035), Cherkaske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Territorial defence units:

Regional Directorate f Territorial Defence'''East''', Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

*Information and Telecommunications Nod of Regional Directorate '''East, Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* Security and Service Company of Regional Directorate '''East, Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
** 3rd Rifle Battalion
** 108th '''Dnipropetrovsk Territorial Defence Brigade (MU А7036)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Kharkiv Oblast
** 17th Rifle Battalion
** 113th '''Kharkiv'' Territorial Defence Brigade (MU А7041)
* Territorial Defence Zone of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast
** 6th Rifle Battalion (''6-й окремий стрілецький батальйон'')
**110th '''Zaporizhzhia Territorial Defence Brigade (MUА7038)
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Donetsk Oblast
**? Rifle Battalion
**109th '''Donetsk Territorial Defence Brigade (MU А7037)
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Luhansk Oblast
**? Rifle Battalion
**111th '''Luhansk Territorial Defence Brigade (MU А7039)

Ground Forces Area - Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, these structures exist only nominally:

*Territorial Defence Zone of Sevastopol
**Rifle Battalion
**Territorial Defence Brigade
*Territorial Defence Zone of the Crimean Autonomous Republic
**Rifle Battalion
**Territorial Defence Brigade

Reserve Corps

Reserve Corps

* 3rd Tank "Iron" Brigade
* 5th Tank Brigade
* 14th Tank Brigade
* 15th Mechanized Brigade
* 33rd Mechanized Brigade
* 45th Artillery Brigade
* 60th Infantry Brigade "Inguletska"
* 62nd Mechanized Brigade
* 63rd Mechanized Brigade

The army's Reserve Corps ( Ukrainian: ''Корпус резерву'') is a new formation, directly subordinated to the General Staff. It is also called the Army Strategic Reserve Corps. Its main function is to prepare and administer the reservists of the ground forces. According to plans it should be fully operational by 2020 with reserve servicemen in three separate categories:
* Operational Reserve of the First Line (''оперативний резерв першої черги'') – by 2020 it should include about 50,000 reserve servicemen with extensive combat training (60 days of combat training every two years) in the reserve companies and batteries of the operational army brigades and regiments and those reservists are to become casualty replacements in wartime
* Operational Reserve of the Second Line (''оперативний резерв другої черги'') – it should include reserve servicemen with combat training of 30 days every two years in territorial defence brigades. In addition, the command personnel will undergo 10 days training cycles yearly. The 4th Army Corps should also act as the pool formation for those territorial brigades and transfer them to the ground forces' operational commands in wartime as needed.
* Mobilization Reserve (''мобілізаційний резерв'') – it should include all the Ukrainian citizens, who are eligible to mobilization in case of a war, but do not belong to the first or the second line operational reserve. They could be used to form support units or to boost the service numbers of the territorial brigades as casualty replacements.

In that organization the Reserve Corps is currently (2022) engaged in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and its reservists have fought in every ground operation of the conflict.

Geographic distribution

List of commanders

Title "Commander-in-chief" ( uk, Головнокомандувач) 1992 – 2005, "Commander" ( uk, Командувач) 2005 – present

* 1992–1994 no appointment (see above text)
* 1994–1998 Colonel General Vasyl Tymofiiovych Sobkov
* 1998–2001 Colonel General Petro Ivanovych Shuliak
* 2001–2002 Colonel General Oleksandr Ivanovych Zatynaiko
* 2002–2004 Colonel General Petro Ivanovych Shuliak
* 2004–2006 Colonel General Mykola Mykolaiovych Petruk
* 2006–2007 Lieutenant General Valerii Semenovych Frolov
* 2007–2009 Colonel General Ivan Yuriiovych Svyda
* 2009–2014 Colonel General Henadii Petrovych Vorobiov
* 2014–2016 Lieutenant General Anatolii Savvatiiovych Pushniakov
* 2016–2019 Colonel General Serhii Mikolaiovych Popko
* 2019–present Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi

Military ranks

; As a non-member state, NATO rank codes are not used in Ukraine, they are presented here for reference purposes only:

In the new uniforms the Ukrainian Ground Forces unveiled in August 2016 the stars that traditionally adorn shoulder straps have been replaced by diamonds. A new set of insignia are being adopted.

General and officer ranks

Other ranks and NCOs

Equipment

Uniforms

The Ukrainian Army unveiled its new uniforms on 24 August 2016 ( Independence Day of Ukraine). The new uniforms are modeled on British military styles, having a modern pixelated digital camouflage pattern. They also incorporate details from the uniforms worn by the Ukrainian People's Army.Fashion statement: Ukrainian troops debut post-Soviet uniforms
, The Washington Times (25 August 2016) The new cap includes an insignia of a Ukrainian Cossack grasping a cross.

Deployment outside of Ukraine

Iraq

Ukraine deployed a sizable contingent of troops to the Iraq War, these were stationed near Kut. Ukraine's troop deployment was the second largest of all former Soviet states besides Georgia and they deployed more soldiers to the nation then many members of NATO such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Ukraine also suffered the fifth highest casualty toll during the war, with only Polish, Italian, UK, and US forces suffering heavier losses.

From 2003 to 2005 over 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers were deployed to Iraq, the third-largest contingent at the time, they were designated to the 5th Mechanized Brigade, as in Ukraine's mission to Kosovo the troops deployed were contract soldiers and not conscripts. Ukraine began to severely draw down its troop levels in Iraq in 2005 due to mounting casualties and the political toxicity of the conflict. By 2005 only 876 soldiers, roughly half of the original contingent were deployed, by years end troop levels dropped to below 100. In 2008, one year before the official end of the US military mission, President Viktor Yushchenko ordered all remaining troops deployed to Iraq to be returned home and Ukraine's mission to the nation officially over.

Afghanistan

Between 2001 and 2021, Ukraine allowed United States military cargo planes to fly over and refuel on Ukrainian soil on their way to Afghanistan. In 2007 Ukraine deployed a detachment of the 143rd De-mining Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Afghanistan. Ukraine has kept a team of soldiers deployed to Afghanistan as part of ISAF since 2007, these mostly consisted of pilots, medical officers, and bomb disposal experts.

Ukrainian pilots were responsible for training the pilots of the Afghan Air Force on the operation of several air craft as Afghanistan's forces consisted of many Soviet designed aircraft such as the Mi-17, which Ukrainian troops were very familiar with. In 2013, the contingent of troops in Afghanistan totaled 26 troops. As of 2014 the Ukrainian contingent was further drawn down and the team included 8 bomb disposal experts and several medical officers.

Kosovo

Ukrainian forces have also been deployed to Kosovo since 2000 as part of the 600 man Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion. In August 2014, Ukraine ended its mission to Kosovo due to the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Africa

Ukrainian peacekeeping forces have been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sudan and South Sudan and Cote d'Ivoire. Ukrainian forces have also been requested to take a more active role in the Northern Mali Conflict of 2012 in battling Islamic forces. One of the largest deployments is the 18th Separate Helicopter Unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which consisted of 160 servicemen and four Mi-24P helicopters and was deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2011.

Military decorations

File:Ukrainian_Goldenstar.jpg, Hero of Ukraine
File:Zasluhy-1.jpg, Order of Merit
File:Hmel-1.jpg, Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky
File:Mugnist-1.jpg, Order For Courage
File:Orden-danilo-galitsky.jpg, Order of Danylo Halytsky
File:Order_of_Ivan_Mazepa.jpg, Cross of Ivan Mazepa
File:Vijs-slug.jpg, Medal For Military Service to Ukraine
File:Bezdog-1.jpg, Medal "For Irreproachable Service"
File:Ukraine-Defender_of_the_Motherland_Medal.PNG, Defender of the Motherland Medal

Veterans

Ukraine provides combat veterans with various benefits. Ukrainians who have served in World War II, the Soviet–Afghan War, or as liquidators at the Chernobyl disaster are eligible for benefits such as a monthly allowance, a discount on medical and pharmacy services, free use of public transportation, additional vacation days from work, having priority for retention in case of work layoffs, easier loan access and approval process, preference when applying for security related positions, priority when applying to vocation school or trade school, and electricity, gas, and housing subsidies. Veterans are also eligible to stay at military sanatoriums, provided there is available space.

Since gaining independence, Ukraine has deployed troops to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, gaining a new generation of veterans separate from those who served in the Soviet forces. Most recently the government passed a law extending veteran benefits to Ukrainian troops participating in the war in Donbas. Veterans from other nations who move to or reside in Ukraine may be eligible for some of the listed benefits. This provision was likely made to ensure that World War II, Chernobyl, and Afghanistan veterans from other Soviet states who moved to Ukraine received similar benefits. As Ukraine has participated in numerous NATO led conflicts since its independence it is unclear if NATO veterans would be extended these benefits.

Veteran groups are not as developed as in the United States which has numerous well known national organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars. World War II veterans, and even persons who have lived through the war are generally treated with the highest respect. Other veterans are not as well known. Ukrainian veterans from the Soviet War of Afghanistan are strikingly similar to the Vietnam veterans of the United States, although the Soviet Union generally kept the public in the dark through the war, unlike in Vietnam, where coverage was very high. Afghanistan is often labeled as a mistake by the Soviet Union and its successor states, but the lack of media coverage, and the censorship through the war have ensured that many still remain unaware of their nation's involvement in the conflict. Despite Ukraine having the 3rd largest contingent of troops in Iraq in 2004, few also realize that their nation has many veterans of the Iraq war.

Soldiers that took part in the war in Donbas can receive free land plots.Soldiers participating in ATO get 863 land plots of 394 ha, 45% of petitions satisfied – land agency
, Interfax-Ukraine (16 December 2014)

On 22 November 2018 the (Ukrainian) Ministry for Veterans Affairs was officially established.Ukraine parliament appoints Markarova, Friz ministers
, UNIAN (22 November 2018)

See also

* KMDB
* Malyshev Factory
* Military ranks of Ukraine
* Ukrspetsexport

Notes

References

Citations

General sources

* International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2006.
* Yuriy Yurchnya, 'The Armed Forces of Ukraine,' Geneva Centre for DCAF, 2010.

Further reading

* Ben Lombardi
Ukrainian armed forces: Defence expenditure and military reform
'' Journal of Slavic Military Studies'', Vol. 14, No. 3, version of record date 18 Dec 2007.
* James Sherr
"Ukraine's Defence Reform: An Update"
Conflict Studies Research Centre, 2002

External links

The Army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

Armament of Ukrainian Ground Forces
at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine





The Ukrainian Army – uarmy.iatp.org.ua

Analysis of the Ukrainian Security Policy

Ukraine's strategic Defence bulletin


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