Armed Forces of Ukraine

Armed Forces of Ukraine
Name	Armed Forces of Ukraine
Native name	Збройні сили України
Founded	1917; 1991 (current form)
Headquarters	Kyiv
Commander-in-chief	Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Minister	Rustem Umerov
Chief of staff	Oleksandr Syrskyi
Age	18
Active	~1,000,000 (2024 estimate)
Reserve	~2,000,000
Budget	$64.8 billion (2024)
Percent GDP	~20% (2024)
Domestic suppliers	Ukroboronprom, Luch Design Bureau
Foreign suppliers	United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland
Imports	F-16 Fighting Falcon, Leopard 2, HIMARS

Armed Forces of Ukraine. The military forces of Ukraine, tracing their origins to the Ukrainian People's Army of 1917 and formally re-established following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. They are a unified force consisting of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, the Ukrainian Air Force, the Ukrainian Navy, the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, and the Special Operations Forces (Ukraine). Since the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014, and especially following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, they have undergone a profound transformation into a large, experienced, and technologically advanced military, central to Ukrainian independence and European security.

History

The earliest modern formations emerged during the Ukrainian War of Independence with the Ukrainian People's Army and the Ukrainian Galician Army. Following the Soviet–Ukrainian War and the incorporation of Ukrainian SSR into the Soviet Union, Ukrainian soldiers served extensively within the Red Army, notably during World War II. The contemporary force was established by the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine and the subsequent Belavezha Accords, initially inheriting a significant portion of the Soviet Armed Forces stationed on its territory, including nuclear weapons later relinquished under the Budapest Memorandum. Early development was shaped by cooperation with NATO through the Partnership for Peace and involvement in international missions like the Iraq War. The defining modern period began with the Revolution of Dignity, the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, and the War in Donbas, which triggered the first major reforms and combat experience against Russian Armed Forces and Donbas separatist forces.

Structure

The supreme commander is the President of Ukraine, with executive authority exercised by the Ministry of Defence (Ukraine) and the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The main service branches are the Ukrainian Ground Forces, organized into operational commands like Operational Command East, and comprising corps such as the 1st Tank Brigade (Ukraine) and the 93rd Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine). The Ukrainian Air Force operates from bases like Vasylkiv Air Base and Myrhorod Air Base, while the Ukrainian Navy is headquartered in Odesa following the loss of Sevastopol. Separate components include the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, featuring the 25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine), and the Special Operations Forces (Ukraine), which includes the 73rd Maritime Special Operations Center. The Territorial Defence Forces (Ukraine) were created in 2022 as a national guard reserve.

Personnel

Personnel comprises contract soldiers, conscripts, and a large reserve mobilized under Martial law in Ukraine. Notable wartime leaders have included former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Serhii Shaptala, and commanders like Oleksandr Tarnavskyi of the Tavria operational-strategic group. The force has been characterized by the initiative of junior officers and the legendary defiance of units like the defenders of Siege of Mariupol on Azovstal. Training occurs at national institutions like the Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine and increasingly at facilities in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

Equipment

The inventory is a mix of modern Western systems, upgraded Soviet-era platforms, and domestically produced weapons. Key armored vehicles include German Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2 tanks, alongside Ukrainian T-84 and upgraded T-64 tanks. Artillery is dominated by American M142 HIMARS and M777 howitzer, German Panzerhaubitze 2000, and Polish Krab (howitzer). The air force operates Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, with future integration of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Domestic industry, led by Ukroboronprom, produces the Neptune (cruise missile), the Bohdana howitzer, and drones like the PD-2 (UAV).

Operations

Major combat operations since 2014 have defined its operational art. Initial engagements included the Battle of Ilovaisk and the Battle of Debaltseve. Following the 2022 invasion, defensive successes included the Battle of Kyiv (2022), the Battle of Kharkiv (2022), and the stalwart defense of Siege of Mariupol. Subsequent counteroffensives liberated Kharkiv oblast during the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive and recaptured Kherson in the 2022 Kherson counteroffensive. The protracted Battle of Bakhmut and the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast have involved intense attritional warfare. Naval operations have focused on maritime drone warfare and missile strikes against the Black Sea Fleet.

International cooperation

Extensive security assistance is coordinated through the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The United States provides the largest aid through initiatives like Presidential Drawdown Authority and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The European Union has launched the European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine. Bilateral partnerships are deep with the United Kingdom (Operation Interflex), Poland, Germany, and the Baltic states. Ukraine participates in NATO exercises such as Sea Breeze (exercise) and Rapid Trident, and has pursued integration via the NATO-Ukraine Commission and the Annual National Programme.

Category:Military of Ukraine Category:Armed Forces of Ukraine