Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Last updated
Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
Десантно-штурмові війська України
Emblema DShV.svg
Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
Founded1992;32 years ago (1992)
CountryUkraine
Type Rapid reaction force
Role Airborne forces
Air assault infantry
Peacekeeping
Size35,000 (2024) [1]
Part of Armed Forces of Ukraine
Headquarters Zhytomyr
Patron Saint Michael [2]
Motto(s)Завжди перші!
(Always first!)
Color of beret   Maroon
AnniversariesAir Assault Forces Day
(21 November) [3]
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander
Brigadier General Ihor Skybiuk [5]
Insignia
Flag Flag of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.svg
Garrison color Prapor DShV.svg
Shoulder sleeve insignia NZ VDV.svg
Beret insignia BZ DShV.svg

The Ukrainian Air Assault Forces [lower-alpha 1] (abbreviated as UAAF [lower-alpha 2] or AAFU), known until 2017 as the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces [lower-alpha 3] [6] are the airborne forces of Ukraine. After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, several Ukraine-based units from the Soviet Airborne Forces were absorbed into the newly-created Ukrainian Ground Forces, where they remained until 2016, when they separated to become one of five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Air Assault Forces are in constant combat readiness. They are the high-mobility branch of the military, responsible for air assaults and military parachuting operations. Before the Russo-Ukrainian War they were also the main forces sent by Ukraine to peacekeeping missions around the world. [7] They are considered the elite of Ukraine's armed forces. [8]

Contents

History

A VDV soldier in 2011 U.S., Partner Nations Train During Rapid Trident 2011 (6007713721).jpg
A VDV soldier in 2011

The Ukrainian Airmobile Forces were created in 1992 as part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, from units of the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) stationed on Ukrainian territory after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 25 December 1991. [9] Part of the Soviet 98th Guards Airborne Division became the basis for the Ukrainian 1st Airmobile Division, which became known as the most capable division in the Ukrainian ground forces during the 1990s. [10]

In the 15 years after their creation, Ukrainian paratroopers have served in peacekeeping missions to the Balkans, in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ethiopia, Georgia and DR Congo. In 2007, the 13th Separate Airmobile Battalion served as part of Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion, a peacekeeping unit with Kosovo Force. [7]

War in Donbas and beyond

In August 2014 the 95th Air Assault Brigade conducted a raid behind the separatist lines. The 95th Brigade, which had been reinforced with armor assets and attachments, launched a surprise attack on separatist lines, broke through into their rear areas, fought for 450 kilometers, and destroyed or captured numerous Russian tanks and artillery pieces before returning to Ukrainian lines and established a corridor in which the Ukrainian army units and civilians trapped at the border could retreat. It was one of the longest armored raids in military history. [11]

In 2016, the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces became an independent branch of the Armed Forces. Previously, they were part of Ground Forces. [12]

On 21 November 2017 (Ukraine's Paratroopers' Day) President Petro Poroshenko stated that 469 Ukrainian paratroopers had been killed in the (ongoing) Russo-Ukrainian War. [13] On 21 November 2018 he adjusted this to 487 killed. [14]

Air Assault soldiers in 2018. Mizhnarodni navchannia <<Saber Junction-2018>> (84) (45085787282).jpg
Air Assault soldiers in 2018.

2017 reforms

Air Assault Forces Day was celebrated on 2 August in Ukraine, as it was in the Soviet Union, until 2017, when it changed to 21 November 2017. [15] [3] President Poroshenko said "It is logical to celebrate your professional holiday on November 21. The usual August 2 is the date of the first jump of paratroopers in the Moscow Military District. How is it about us? Moscow is not Kyiv. Ukraine is not Russia." [16] He added that "The start of the new Paratroop Day is part of the Ukrainianization of the historical and political calendar – the replacement of the Soviet-Russian imposed upon us." [17]

On 21 November 2017 the Air Assault Forces received its new insignia – the dome of a parachute "as a symbol of airborne units around the world" and the wings of Archangel Michael and "the flaming sword with which he hits the enemies". [13] The color of the Ukrainian paratroopers was changed to maroon, [13] and from 2017 the UkrAAF wear the maroon berets common to many Western airborne units.

On 23 May 2018, President Poroshenko signed legislation that renamed the Airmobile Forces as the Air Assault Forces. [18]

Russian invasion

Beginning Thursday, 24 February 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, [19] the UkrAAF have been participants of some of the land combat actions of the current conflict, fighting alongside their brethen from the Ground Forces, Territorial Defense and the National Guard.

As of February 20, 2024, the air assault forces suffered a total of 3,104 soldiers killed in action, according to publicly available information. [20]

Organization

In 2014, the staffing of an airmobile brigade was brought up to 1,200 servicemen. Each brigade was given at least one artillery battalion from the 25th and 55th artillery brigades and a tank battalion. Currently, the total staffing of the brigades ranges from 1,000 to 2,200 personnel, depending on the deployment. Most of the brigades operate in 1-2 battalion tactical groups, in each of which, in addition to infantry battalions, there are up to two field artillery battalions and at least one tank company equipped with BTRs and BMP IFVs.

Organization 2001

In 2001 the Airmobile Force consisted of: [21]

UnitBase #LocationStatus
Headquarters 1st Airmobile Division А0220 Bolhrad inactive since 2003
25th Airborne Brigade А1126 Hvardiyske (Dnipropetrovsk Region)
45th Airmobile BrigadeА1533 Bolhrad
27th Mechanized BrigadeА0664 Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi
91st Artillery RegimentА0242Veseliy Kut
95th Airmobile Brigade А0281 Zhytomyr
79th Airmobile Regiment А0224 Mykolaiv
80th Airmobile Regiment А0284 Lviv
1st Airmobile Division
Separate Brigade
Separate Regiments

Organization 2017

Ukrainian Air Assault Forces organization 2017 Ukrainian Airmobile Forces 2017.png
Ukrainian Air Assault Forces organization 2017

Organization 2024

As of January 2024 the support forces of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces are:

Commanders

The flag of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief of the Air Assault Forces Vexillum of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.svg
The flag of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief of the Air Assault Forces
NameRankPeriod of command
Vitaly Raevsky Major general 1992–1998
Ivan Yakubets  [ uk ] Colonel 1998–2005
Serhiy Lysovyi  [ uk ]Colonel2005–2012
Oleksandr ShvetsColonel2012–2015
Mykhailo Zabrodskyi Lieutenant general March 2015 [30] [31] – August 2019 [32]
Yevhen Moisiuk Major generalAugust 2019 [32] – 9 August 2021
Maksym Myrhorodskyy  [ uk ]Major general9 August 2021 [33] – 11 February 2024
Ihor Skybiuk Brigadier general11 February 2024 [5] – present

Armament

A BTR-4 800 vipusknikiv fakul'tetu pidgotovki ofitseriv zapasu NUOU sklali Viis'kovu prisiagu 02.jpg
A BTR-4
A AT-105 Saxon Saxon at105.jpg
A AT-105 Saxon
A T-80BV of the 95th Air Assault Brigade Tankisti-desantniki udoskonaliuiut' svoyi vminnia 03.jpg
A T-80BV of the 95th Air Assault Brigade
A Ukrainian soldier prepares to engage the opposition force during an air assault at Exercise Rapid Trident 16, July 2016 KrAZ Spartan of Ukrainian Airmobile Forces, Rapid Trident 2016.jpg
A Ukrainian soldier prepares to engage the opposition force during an air assault at Exercise Rapid Trident 16, July 2016

Personal firearms

Armored vehicles

Artillery

Vehicles

See also

Notes

  1. Ukrainian: Десантно-штурмові війська України, romanized: Desantno-šturmovi vijśka Ukraïny, pronounced [deˌsɑntnoʃtʊrmoˈvʲiʋʲii̯ˈsʲkaʊkrɐˈjine]
  2. Ukrainian: ДШВ
  3. Ukrainian: Високомобільні десантні війська України, romanized: Vysokomobiľni desantni vijśka Ukraïny, lit. 'High-mobility airborne forces of Ukraine', abbreviated as VDV (Ukrainian: ВДВ)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Airborne Forces</span> Separate-troops branch of the Russian Armed Forces

The Russian Airborne Forces is the airborne forces branch of the Russian Armed Forces. It was formed in 1992 from units of the Soviet Airborne Forces that came under Russian control following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air assault</span> Military movement of ground forces by air into combat or unsecured areas

Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, such as helicopters, to seize and hold key terrain that has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind enemy lines. In addition to regular infantry training, air-assault units usually receive training in rappelling, fast-roping techniques, and air transportation. Their equipment is sometimes designed or field-modified to allow better transportation and/or carrying within aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maroon beret</span> International symbol of airborne forces

The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-General Frederick "Boy" Browning, commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. It was first worn by the Parachute Regiment in action in North Africa during November 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">79th Air Assault Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 79th Separate Tavrian Air Assault Brigade of Mykolaiv is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The paratrooper brigade is based in Mykolaiv.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">95th Air Assault Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 95th Separate Polesian Air Assault Brigade(Ukrainian: 95-та окрема десантно-штурмова Поліська бригада; 95 ОДШБр); Military Unit Number A0281) is a unit of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The brigade is located in Zhytomyr. It is considered one of the most prestigious and capable units in the Ukrainian military. The brigade is one of Ukraine’s Partnership for Peace units. The brigade received a lot of publicity for its raid behind the separatist lines allegedly inflicting heavy losses on separatist and Russian forces during the war in Donbas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukrainian Marine Corps</span> Branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Marine Corps, also known simply as the Ukrainian Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2023, responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations. From its modern foundation in 1993 up to 2023 it constituted part of the Coastal Forces of the Ukrainian Navy. It is used as a component part of amphibious, airborne and amphibious-airborne operations, alone or in coordination with formations and units of the Ground Forces in order to capture parts of the seashore, islands, ports, fleet bases, coast airfields and other coast objects from the enemy. It can also be used to defend naval bases, vital shoreline areas, separate islands and coast objects, and security of hostile areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">80th Air Assault Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade ; Military Unit Number A0284) is an airmobile formation of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The brigade traces its history back to the 80th Airborne Regiment of the Soviet Union, formed in 1955 as part of the Soviet airborne's 7th Guards Airborne Division. Four years later, the regiment transferred to the 104th Guards Airborne Division. It participated in Operation Whirlwind in 1956 and Operation Danube in 1968. In 1979, the regiment was disbanded and used to form the 39th and 40th Separate Air Assault Brigades of the Soviet Army. The 39th Separate Air Assault Brigade became the 224th Training Center after transfer back to the Soviet airborne in 1990. The training center was taken over by Ukraine in 1992 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and became the 6th Separate Airmobile Brigade in 1995. In 1999, the brigade was reorganized into the 80th Airmobile Regiment, part of the 13th Army Corps. In 2013, the regiment was upgraded and became a brigade. The brigade fought in the War in Donbass, and was redesignated as an air assault brigade in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Airmobile Battalion (Ukraine)</span> Ukrainian Air Assault Forces unit

The 13th Separate Airmobile Battalion is a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces. The Battalion is composed of fully professional soldiers. The main purpose of the Battalion is to take part in peacekeeping operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanized Infantry (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

Mechanized Infantry Forces of Ukraine are the general basis and primary combat formations of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. They execute tasks of holding the occupied areas, lines and positions tasks of enemy's impacts repelling, of penetrating the enemy's defense lines, defeating the enemy forces, capturing the important areas, lines and objectives, Capture and expel enemy forces from territory and can operate in structure of marine and landing troops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military ranks of Ukraine</span>

The military ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were established on March 1992, when Ukraine adopted the Law on Military Duty and Military Service 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade</span> Russian Airborne Troops unit

The 45th Guards Spetsnaz Detached Brigade is a special reconnaissance and special operations military unit of the Russian Airborne Troops (VDV), based near Moscow. It was formed in 1994 as the 45th Independent Spetsnaz Regiment, and expanded to a brigade in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division</span> Russian Airborne Troops formation

The 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division is an elite guards division of the Russian Airborne Troops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of Ukraine</span> Combined military forces of Ukraine

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are the military forces of Ukraine. All military and security forces, including the Armed Forces, are under the command of the President of Ukraine and subject to oversight by a permanent Verkhovna Rada parliamentary commission. They trace their lineage to 1917, while the modern armed forces were formed after Ukrainian independence in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">104th Guards Airborne Division</span> Soviet Airborne Forces formation

The 104th Guards Airborne Division is a division of the Soviet Airborne Troops and the Russian Airborne Forces. It was originally formed as the 11th Guards Airborne Division during World War II. In December 1944, the 11th Guards Airborne Division became the 104th Guards Rifle Division. On 7 June 1946, the division was renamed the 104th Guards Airborne Division. It was reduced to the 31st Guards Airborne Brigade in May 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">35th Guards Air Assault Brigade</span> Military unit

The 35th Guards Air Assault Brigade is an airmobile brigade of the Kazakh Air Assault Forces. It is currently based in Kapchagay. The brigade traces its history back to the Soviet Union as the 111th Guards Airborne Regiment, formed in 1948 as part of the 11th Guards Airborne Division. After the 11th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded in April 1955, the regiment became part of the 105th Guards Vienna Airborne Division. The 105th Guards Airborne Division was broken up in the fall of 1979 and the regiment became the 35th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade.

The 23rd Airborne Brigade was a military formation of the Soviet Airborne Forces. It was originally formed as the 23rd Separate Air Assault Brigade in 1986, but transferred to the Soviet Airborne in 1990 and became an airborne brigade. In 1992 it was transferred to Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45th Air Assault Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 45th Air Assault Brigade was a brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, formed twice. The brigade was first formed in 1993 from elements of the 299th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 98th Guards Airborne Division. Part of the 1st Airmobile Division, the brigade was disbanded. The brigade was reformed from an airmobile battalion in 2016. The brigade was disbanded again in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mykhailo Zabrodskyi</span> Ukrainian military commander and politician

Mykhailo Vitaliyovych Zabrodskyi is a Ukrainian politician and retired military officer. A member of the European Solidarity party, he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada in 2019, but renounced his mandate in March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paratroopers' Day</span> Memorable sate in Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries

Airborne Forces Day also known as Paratroopers' Day is a professional military holiday observed in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, celebrated on 2 August annually. It was formerly celebrated in the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. It was celebrated in Ukraine as Airmobile Forces Day from 1999 until 2017. It is the official holiday of the former Soviet Airborne forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">77th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine)</span> Military unit

The 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade ; Military Unit Number A4355) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces formed in the summer of 2022, based in Zhytomyr.

References

  1. The Military Balance 2022. International Institute for Strategic Studies. February 2022. ISBN   978-1-00-062003-0.
  2. (in Ukrainian) Instead of airborne troops in Ukraine there will be Airborne Assault Troops, BBC Ukrainian (21 November 2017)
  3. 1 2 (in Ukrainian) Day of paratroopers decided to move Archived 2017-11-10 at the Wayback Machine , Ukrayinska Pravda (8 November 2017)
  4. (in Ukrainian) Since the beginning of the conflict in the Donbas killed 415 Marines Archived 2016-08-07 at the Wayback Machine , Ukrayinska Pravda (2 August 2016)
  5. 1 2 "Zelensky appoints 4 new high-level military commanders". The Kyiv Independent. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  6. "Основні показники реформування Міністерства оборони та Збройних Сил у 2016 році". 2020-09-21. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  7. 1 2 "Ukrainian paratroopers celebrate 15th anniversary" (PDF). KFOR Chronicle. 31 August 2007. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  8. "Combat training of Ukrainian troopers: They aren't called Ukrainian Armed Forces' elite for nothing, - Poroshenko on Ukrainian commandoes. PHOTOS (16.08.18 16:54) « Incidents | Censor.NET". 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  9. Kobasa, Askold I. (December 1995). A Strategic-Military Analysis of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Naval Postgraduate School. p. 53. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  10. Kobasa, Askold I. (December 1995). A Strategic-Military Analysis of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Naval Postgraduate School. p. 112. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  11. "21st Century Maneuver | Marine Corps Association". www.mca-marines.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  12. "Основні показники реформування Міністерства оборони та Збройних Сил у 2016 році". www.ukrmilitary.com. 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  13. 1 2 3 "Poroshenko: 469 Ukrainian paratroopers killed in Donbas amid war". www.unian.info. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  14. "Some 487 Ukrainian paratroopers killed in Donbas hostilities". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  15. "Ukraine marks 25th Airmobile Forces anniversary". www.unian.info. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  16. President: The Day of Airborne Forces will be celebrated on November 21 Archived 2017-11-23 at the Wayback Machine , Presidential Administration of Ukraine (21 November 2017)
  17. (in Ukrainian) President: Day of Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be celebrated on November 21 Archived 2017-11-21 at the Wayback Machine , Presidential Administration of Ukraine (21 November 2017)
  18. Poroshenko enacts law on Ukraine's Air Assault Forces. UNIAN. Published 23 May 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  19. "Conflict in Ukraine". Global Conflict Tracker. Council on Foreign Relations. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  20. "UA Losses".
  21. "№ 477-р від 3 грудня 2001 року "Про шефство Дніпропетров". Archived from the original on October 3, 2011.
  22. Високомобільні десантні війська In: ukrminilitary.com
  23. 1 2 "Ukrainian Military Pages: Високомобільні десантні війська" [Airmobile Forces Structure]. www.ukrmilitary.com (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  24. https://twitter.com/Militarylandnet/status/1751327304356118993
  25. "Захисти своїх". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  26. "46 окрема десантно-штурмова бригада ВДВ ЗС України запрошує на службу! Захисти своїх!". Archived from the original on 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  27. "77th separate airmobile brigade". 21 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  28. "199 навчальний центр".
  29. Сергій Машковський привітав військовослужбовців 199 навчального центру ВДВ ЗСУ. [199th Training Center Airmobile Forces welcomed by Sergey Mashkovsky]. oda.zt.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  30. "President conferred the rank of Brigadier General to commander of the Airborne Forces Mykhailo Zabrodskyi". Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. 2 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  31. "Mykhailo Zabrodskyi appointed as new chief of ATO forces". www.unian.info. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  32. 1 2 Ukraine's Major General Moisiuk appointed Commander of Airborne Assault Troops, UNIAN (21 August 2019)
  33. "Maksym Myrhorodskyy appointed commander of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces". Militarnyy. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  34. S stands for skladnoy (Russian : складной), means folding. Issued only for parachute-landing purposes
  35. "MoD News Article". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
  36. "Automatic grenade launcher UAG-40". www.lk.com.ua. Public Company Leninska Kuznya Plant. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  37. 1 2 "MoD News Article". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.