Operational Command West (OC West) is a formation of the
Ukrainian Ground Forces
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 ...
in western Ukraine. Its headquarters is located in
Rivne
Rivne (; uk, Рівне ),) also known as Rovno (Russian: Ровно; Polish: Równe; Yiddish: ראָוונע), is a city in western Ukraine. The city is the administrative center of Rivne Oblast (province), as well as the surrounding Rivne Raio ...
.
History
When Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union, there were three Military Districts on its territory. These were the
Kyiv
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe.
Kyi ...
,
Odessa and
Carpathian Military District
The Red Banner Carpathian Military District (, ) was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces during the Cold War and subsequently of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the early Post-Soviet period.
It was established on 3 May 1946 on the ...
s. In 1998, the Western Operational Command was created from the Carpathian Military District.
By 1 July 2006, the Western Operational Command consisted of units directly subordinated to the command and to the
13th Army Corps. These units were:
*
7th Army Aviation Regiment
* 11th Artillery Brigade
* 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment
*
14th Mechanized Brigade
*
24th Mechanized Brigade
* 55th Communications Regiment
*
80th Airmobile Regiment
* 146th Reconnaissance and Command Center
* 59th Artillery Regiment
* 128th Mountain Infantry Brigade
* 703rd Engineering Regiment
* 704th Chemical Defense Regiment
In October 2013,
Operational Command North
Operational Command North is a command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in northern Ukraine. It was formed in 2013 from the Western Operational Command and Territorial Directorate North by reforming the 13th Army Corps.
The operation command trace ...
was created in Rivne. The Western Operational Command's headquarters was moved to
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukrain ...
and disbanded in August 2015. In November 2013, the 80th Airmobile Regiment was upgraded to brigade strength. From the beginning of 2015, Operational Command North was moved to
Chernihiv
Chernihiv ( uk, Черні́гів, , russian: Черни́гов, ; pl, Czernihów, ; la, Czernihovia), is a city and municipality in northern Ukraine, which serves as the administrative center of Chernihiv Oblast and Chernihiv Raion within ...
. Operational Command West headquarters remained in Rivne. Major General
Ihor Dovhan led the command from 2015.
In October 2015, the
10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade was formed in the command. During late January and early February 2016, units of Operational Command West participated in joint training exercises with British instructors in Rivne. On 5 February, the command was assigned responsibility for Ground Forces troops in
Volyn
Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
,
Zakarpattia,
Ivano-Frankivsk,
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukrain ...
,
Rivne
Rivne (; uk, Рівне ),) also known as Rovno (Russian: Ровно; Polish: Równe; Yiddish: ראָוונע), is a city in western Ukraine. The city is the administrative center of Rivne Oblast (province), as well as the surrounding Rivne Raio ...
,
Ternopil
Ternópil ( uk, Тернопіль, Ternopil' ; pl, Tarnopol; yi, טאַרנאָפּל, Tarnopl, or ; he, טארנופול (טַרְנוֹפּוֹל), Tarnopol; german: Tarnopol) is a city in the west of Ukraine. Administratively, Ternopi ...
,
Khmelnytskyi
Khmelnytskyi ( uk, Хмельни́цький, Khmelnytskyi, ), until 1954 Proskuriv ( uk, Проску́рів, links=no ), is a city in western Ukraine, the administrative center for Khmelnytskyi Oblast (region) and Khmelnytskyi Raion (dist ...
, and
Chernivtsi Oblast
Chernivtsi Oblast ( uk, Черніве́цька о́бласть, Chernivetska oblast), also referred to as Chernivechchyna ( uk, Чернівеччина) is an oblast (province) in Western Ukraine, consisting of the northern parts of the regio ...
s. As of December of that year, it included the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, the
14th Separate Mechanized Brigade,
24th Separate Mechanized Brigade,
128th Separate Mountain Brigade, and
44th Separate Artillery Brigade.
In March 2017, Major General
Oleksandr Pavlyuk
Oleksandr Oleksiyovych Pavlyuk (Ukrainian: Олександр Олексійович Павлюк; born 20 August 1970) is a Ukrainian General. He was a participant of the war in Donbas and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 14 February 20 ...
became commander of OC West after Dovhan was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces for Combat Training.
Current Structure
Operational Command West has operational command of ground force units in
Volyn
Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
,
Zakarpattia,
Ivano-Frankivsk,
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukrain ...
,
Rivne
Rivne (; uk, Рівне ),) also known as Rovno (Russian: Ровно; Polish: Równe; Yiddish: ראָוונע), is a city in western Ukraine. The city is the administrative center of Rivne Oblast (province), as well as the surrounding Rivne Raio ...
,
Ternopil
Ternópil ( uk, Тернопіль, Ternopil' ; pl, Tarnopol; yi, טאַרנאָפּל, Tarnopl, or ; he, טארנופול (טַרְנוֹפּוֹל), Tarnopol; german: Tarnopol) is a city in the west of Ukraine. Administratively, Ternopi ...
,
Khmelnytskyi
Khmelnytskyi ( uk, Хмельни́цький, Khmelnytskyi, ), until 1954 Proskuriv ( uk, Проску́рів, links=no ), is a city in western Ukraine, the administrative center for Khmelnytskyi Oblast (region) and Khmelnytskyi Raion (dist ...
, and
Chernivtsi oblasts.
* Operational Command West,
Rivne
Rivne (; uk, Рівне ),) also known as Rovno (Russian: Ровно; Polish: Równe; Yiddish: ראָוונע), is a city in western Ukraine. The city is the administrative center of Rivne Oblast (province), as well as the surrounding Rivne Raio ...
**
10th Mountain Assault Brigade,
Kolomyia
Kolomyia, formerly known as Kolomea ( ua, Коломия, Kolomyja, ; pl, Kołomyja; german: Kolomea; ro, Colomeea; yi, ), is a city located on the Prut River in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (province), in western Ukraine. It serves as the adm ...
**
14th Mechanized Brigade,
Volodymyr Volodymyr ( uk, Володи́мир, Volodýmyr, , orv, Володимѣръ) is a Ukrainian given name of Old East Slavic origin. The related Ancient Slavic, such as Czech, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, etc. form of the name is Володимѣръ ...
**
24th Mechanized Brigade,
Yavoriv
Yavoriv ( uk, Яворів, ; pl, Jaworów; yi, יאַוואָראָוו , translit=Yavorov; german: Jaworiw) is a city in the Lviv region of western Ukraine which is around 15 kilometers from the Polish border. It is the administrative centre ...
**
128th Mountain Brigade,
Mukachevo
Mukachevo ( uk, Мукачево, ; hu, Munkács; see name section) is a city in the valley of the Latorica river in Zakarpattia Oblast (province), in Western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of Mukachevo Raion (district), the city ...
**
44th Artillery Brigade,
Ternopil
Ternópil ( uk, Тернопіль, Ternopil' ; pl, Tarnopol; yi, טאַרנאָפּל, Tarnopl, or ; he, טארנופול (טַרְנוֹפּוֹל), Tarnopol; german: Tarnopol) is a city in the west of Ukraine. Administratively, Ternopi ...
** 39th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, Volodymyr
** 703rd Engineer Regiment,
Sambir
** 55th Signal Regiment, Rivne
** 146th Maintenance Regiment,
Zolochiv
** 136th Reconnaissance Battalion, Rivne
** 182nd Logistic Support Battalion,
Berezhany
Berezhany ( uk, Бережани, ; pl, Brzeżany; yi, ברעזשאַן, Brezhan; he, בּז'יז'אני/בּז'ז'ני ''Bzhezhani''/''Bzhizhani'') is a city in Ternopil Raion, Ternopil Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It lies about fr ...
** 224th Transport Battalion,
Shepetivka
Shepetivka ( uk, Шепеті́вка; pl, Szepetówka) is a city located on the Huska River in Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province) in western Ukraine. Shepetivka is the administrative center of Shepetivka Raion (district). It hosts the administrati ...
** 394th Security & Service Battalion, Rivne
** 146th Command & Intelligence Center, Rivne
** 346th Information & Signal Center, Rivne
** Regional
Radioelectronic Intelligence (REI) Center,
Brody
Brody ( uk, Броди; russian: Броды, Brodï; pl, Brody; german: Brody; yi, בראָד, Brod) is a city in Zolochiv Raion of Lviv Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately ...
*** 71st Maneuverable REI Center,
Kovel
*** 84th REI Center,
Vynohradiv
Vynohradiv ( uk, Виноградів, hu, Nagyszőlős, ro, Seleușu Mare, sk, Vinohradov) is a city in western Ukraine, in Zakarpattia Oblast. It was the center of Vynohradiv Raion and since 2020 it has been incorporated into Berehove Raio ...
*** 99th REI Center, Serebriya
** 201st Electronic Warfare Company, Rivne
** 233rd Joint Training Range, Mala Lyubash
Additionally the following major ground combat formations of other branches of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces
, imports =
, exports =
, history =
, ranks = Military ranks of Ukraine
, country=Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine ( uk, Збро́йні си́ли Украї́ни), most commonly know ...
, respectively the ground forces, are based in the area of Operational Command West:
*
Ground Forces
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
:
** 19th Missile Brigade "Zaporizhia", in
Khmelnytskyi
Khmelnytskyi ( uk, Хмельни́цький, Khmelnytskyi, ), until 1954 Proskuriv ( uk, Проску́рів, links=no ), is a city in western Ukraine, the administrative center for Khmelnytskyi Oblast (region) and Khmelnytskyi Raion (dist ...
**
12th Army Aviation Brigade, in
Novyi Kalyniv
** 16th Army Aviation Brigade, in
Brody
Brody ( uk, Броди; russian: Броды, Brodï; pl, Brody; german: Brody; yi, בראָד, Brod) is a city in Zolochiv Raion of Lviv Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately ...
** 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment "Kyiv" (
BM-30 Smerch
The BM-30 ''Smerch'' ( rus, Смерч, "tornado", "whirlwind"), 9K58 Smerch or 9A52-2 Smerch-M is a heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union. The system is intended to defeat personnel, armore ...
),
Drogobych
*
Air Assault Forces:
**
80th Air Assault Brigade, in
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukrain ...
*
Air Forces
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ar ...
:
** 11th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in
Shepetivka
Shepetivka ( uk, Шепеті́вка; pl, Szepetówka) is a city located on the Huska River in Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province) in western Ukraine. Shepetivka is the administrative center of Shepetivka Raion (district). It hosts the administrati ...
** 223rd Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in
Stryi
** 540th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in
Kamianka-Buzka
Kamianka-Buzka ( uk, Кам'янка-Бузька, Kamianka-Buzka, ) is a city in Lviv Raion, Lviv Oblast, of western Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Kamianka-Buzka urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. The city was previous ...
*
Special Forces:
** 8th Special Forces Regiment, in Khmelnytskyi
*
Territorial Defense Forces
** 100th Territorial Defense Brigade
** 101st Territorial Defense Brigade
** 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade
**
103rd Territorial Defense Brigade
**
104th Territorial Defense Brigade
** 105th Territorial Defense Brigade
** 106th Territorial Defense Brigade
** 107th Territorial Defense Brigade
Commanders
* Lieutenant General
Valeriy Stepanov (1992)
* Colonel General
Vasyl Sobkov (1993–1994)
* Colonel General
Petro Shuliak (1994–1998)
* Colonel General
Serhiy Chernilevsky (1998–1999)
* Colonel General
Mykola Petruk (2003–2004)
* Lieutenant General
Mykhailo Kutsyn (2004–2010)
* Major General
Viktor Hanushchak (2010; acting)
* Lieutenant General
Yuri Domanskii (2010 – May 2012)
* Lieutenant General
Ihor Kolesnik (?-2015)
* Major General
Ihor Dovhan (2015–March 2017)
* Major General
Oleksandr Pavlyuk
Oleksandr Oleksiyovych Pavlyuk (Ukrainian: Олександр Олексійович Павлюк; born 20 August 1970) is a Ukrainian General. He was a participant of the war in Donbas and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 14 February 20 ...
(March 2017–present)
References
External links
Official website
{{Ukrainian Ground Forces
Military units and formations established in 1998
Military units and formations of Ukraine
West
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...
1998 establishments in Ukraine