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Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

The Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (Ukrainian: Десантно-штурмові війська України, romanized: Desantno-shturmovi viiska Ukrainy, pronounced [deˌsɑntno ʃtʊrmoˈvʲi ʋʲii̯ˈsʲka ʊkrɐˈjine], abbreviated as DShV[a] or AAFU), known until 2017 as the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces[b][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]

History

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.

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]

Ukrainian Air Assault Forces organization 2017

Current Structure

Ukrainian Air Assault Forces is located in Ukraine
77 Airmobile
25 Airborne
46 Airmobile
71 Jaeger
79 Air Assault
80 Air Assault
81 Airmobile
82 Air Assault
95 Air Assault
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Air Assault Forces brigades 2023
Airborne Air Assault Airmobile Jaeger

Commanders

The flag of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief of the Air Assault Forces

Armament

A BTR-4
A AT-105 Saxon
A T-80BV of the 95th Air Assault Brigade
A Ukrainian soldier with a KrAZ Spartan prepares to engage the opposition force during an air assault at Exercise Rapid Trident 16, July 2016

Personal firearms

Armored vehicles

Artillery

Vehicles

Gallery

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Ukrainian: ДШВ
  2. ^ Ukrainian: Високомобільні десантні війська України, romanized: Vysokomobilni desantni viiska Ukrainy, lit. 'High-mobility airborne forces of Ukraine', abbreviated as VDV (Ukrainian: ВДВ)

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. ^ a b (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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d e "Високомобільні десантні війська". Ukrainian Military Pages. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Структура ВДВ". Archived from the original on 25 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Структура ВДВ".
  25. ^ "У владі неба. В Десантно-штурмових військах сформований новий підрозділ". Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Mykhailo Zabrodskyi appointed as new chief of ATO forces". www.unian.info. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  28. ^ a b Ukraine's Major General Moisiuk appointed Commander of Airborne Assault Troops, UNIAN (21 August 2019)
  29. ^ "Maksym Myrhorodskyy appointed commander of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces". Militarnyy. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  30. ^ S stands for skladnoy (Russian: складной), means folding. Issued only for parachute-landing purposes
  31. ^ "MoD News Article". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
  32. ^ "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.
  33. ^ a b "MoD News Article". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.

External links

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