Order of Battle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Distinguished Jamestown Senior Fellow Richard D. Hooker Jr. and Jamestown analyst Hlib Parfonov provides a detailed organizational and structural overview of Ukraine’s military forces amid the ongoing war with Russia. Drawing on Ukrainian government, military, and academic sources, as well as authoritative open-source Ukrainian media outlets, the report outlines the composition and capabilities of Ukraine’s military branches, including the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Air Assault Forces, and the newly established Unmanned Systems Forces. It catalogs over 131 maneuver brigades, their command structures, operational groupings, and equipment inventories, ranging from Western-supplied tanks and artillery to Ukrainian-made drone units and legacy Soviet platforms. This comprehensive guide serves as both an analytical and a reference resource for understanding Ukraine’s evolving military posture.

To read this report in PDF form, please see here.

Introduction

Ukraine has been at war with Russia since the occupation of Crimea and Russian incursions in the Donbas in 2014, and on a large scale since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. From 2014 to 2022, Ukraine’s armed forces had grown to be the largest and strongest in Europe, with a total end strength of 2.2 million (900,000 active personnel and 1.3 million reservists). Currently, the Ukrainian forces comprise 131 maneuver brigades of various types, supported by 15 artillery brigades, four army aviation brigades, 14 antiaircraft brigades or regiments, 105 fixed-wing combat aircraft, 109 rotary-wing combat aircraft, and eight maritime patrol craft. All combat formations rely heavily on electronic warfare and the use of unmanned platforms. This listing omits the numerous independent battalions and detachments that comprise the Ukrainian order of battle, as well as combat support and service support formations. Some units shown are forming or have sustained battle losses and may not be at full strength.

Structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Ukraine’s armed forces are composed of nine branches: the Ground Forces, the Air Force, the Navy, the Air Assault Forces, the Marine Corps, the Special Operations Forces, the National Guard, the Territorial Defense Forces, and the Unmanned Systems Forces. Combat units of the National Guard, National Police, and Border Guards come under the control of the Armed Forces in wartime. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Minister of Defense is Rustem Umerov. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is General Oleksandr Syrskyi. As the professional head of Ukraine’s military, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces is appointed by the president and is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the forces. Syrskyi is also a member of the National Security and Defense Council. He is assisted by the Ukrainian General Staff, headed by Major General Andrii Hnatov, chief of the General Staff.

The General Staff is tasked with conducting strategic planning and coordination. The Joint Forces Command provides direct command and control of combat forces in the field. The chiefs of the military services, which include the Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force, are responsible for force generation and readiness. The commanders of the Air Assault Forces and Special Operations Forces are responsible for both force generation and operational employment. The National Guard is the national gendarmerie, responsible for public security as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In wartime, the National Guard contributes combat forces and fights alongside the other armed forces. The Territorial Defense Forces are part of the Ministry of Defense and are the military reserve of the armed forces. In practice, National Guard and Territorial Defense combat brigades often fight where needed “in the line,” similar to regular brigades. The Air Force, Border Police, and National Police also field combat brigades.

The Ground Forces

The Ukrainian Ground Forces include four regional Operational Commands—East, West, North, and South. Their responsibilities are primarily administrative, and they do not function as corps-level battle staffs as found in many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) armies. Command and control (C2) above the brigade level is ad hoc in the form of operational tactical groups, operational strategic groups, and operational groups. The 9th and 10th army corps were formed in 2023. Ukraine is currently expanding to 18 corps headquarters to provide command and control for its many brigades, including the 3rd, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Army Corps, plus two in the Air Assault Forces, one in the Marine Corps and two in the National Guard. These appear to function similarly to Russian corps, providing C2 for several brigades, not divisions, as with NATO corps. There is considerable modification ongoing as new brigades are formed or existing brigades undergo force transformation—for example, from motorized to mechanized. The commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces is Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi.

The brigade is the unit of action in the Ukrainian Ground Forces, as Ukraine does not employ the division as an echelon of command. Brigades are self-sufficient with organic combat, combat support, and combat service support units. Ukraine’s combat maneuver brigades are the backbone of the ground forces and are similarly organized, with some variations. Their structure draws heavily on former Soviet foundations, as Ukrainian brigades, similar to their Russian counterparts, are fully mobile and contain far more artillery than their Western counterparts. Where NATO brigades typically include a single artillery battalion, Ukrainian brigades typically have up to four artillery battalions.

Tank Brigades

Tank Brigades are organized with three or four tank battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, and in some cases, additional rifle battalions. Standard enablers comprise an artillery group consisting of two self-propelled howitzer battalions and one multiple rocket launch (MRL) battalion, an anti-tank battalion, an air defense battalion, an engineer battalion, a maintenance battalion, a logistics battalion, a headquarters company, a reconnaissance company, an electronic warfare company, a radar company, a signal company, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) company, a medical company, and a military police platoon. Tank units are equipped with T-55, T-64, T-72, and T-80 series tanks in various configurations, as well as some U.S. M1 Abrams, U.K. Challenger II, and German Leopard I and II models.

There are currently three tank brigades in the Ground Forces order of battle:

1st Tank Brigade

3rd Tank Brigade

4th Tank Brigade

Mechanized Infantry Brigades

Mechanized Infantry Brigades form the bulk of the ground forces. They typically field three or more mechanized infantry battalions and one tank battalion with standard enablers (including a sniper company). Mechanized infantry units are equipped with BTR-3, BTR-4, BTR-60, BTR-80, BMD-2, BMP-1, BMP-2, and BMP-3 vehicles as well as U.S. M2 Bradley, M113, and Stryker vehicles, Swedish CV-90, U.K. Mk3 Bulldog, and German Marder armored personnel carriers (APC). Organic artillery is typically tracked with some exceptions. Brigade artillery groups normally include one 2S1 122mm self-propelled battalion, one 2S3 152mm self-propelled battalion, and an MRL battalion. Air defense battalions in Ukrainian brigades are equipped with MANPADS (SA-7, SA-14, U.S. Stinger, U.K. Starstreak), gun systems (ZSU-23-4, ZU-23-2, S-60, U.S. AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, 2K22 Tunguska, German Gepard), and tracked missile systems (SA-6, SA-8, SA-13, SA-19).

There are currently 41 mechanized infantry brigades in the Ground Forces order of battle:

14th Mechanized Brigade

21st Mechanized Brigade

22nd Mechanized Brigade

23rd Mechanized Brigade

24th Mechanized Brigade

28th Mechanized Brigade

30th Mechanized Brigade

31st Mechanized Brigade

32nd Mechanized Brigade

33rd Mechanized Brigade

41st Mechanized Brigade

42nd Mechanized Brigade

43rd Mechanized Brigade

44th Mechanized Brigade

47th Mechanized Brigade

53rd Mechanized Brigade

54th Mechanized Brigade

60th Mechanized Brigade

61st Mechanized Brigade

62nd Mechanized Brigade

63rd Mechanized Brigade

65th Mechanized Brigade

67th Mechanized Brigade

72nd Mechanized Brigade

110th Mechanized Brigade

115th Mechanized Brigade

116th Mechanized Brigade

118th Mechanized Brigade

141st Mechanized Brigade

142nd Mechanized Brigade

143rd Mechanized Brigade

144th Mechanized Brigade

151st Mechanized Brigade

153rd Mechanized Brigade

154th Mechanized Brigade

155th Mechanized Brigade

156th Mechanized Brigade

157th Mechanized Brigade

158th Mechanized Brigade

159th Mechanized Brigade

160th Mechanized Brigade

Note: In 2024, the 5th and 17th Tank Brigades, as well as the 117th Mechanized Brigade, were reorganized into heavy mechanized brigades, comprising two tank battalions, two mechanized infantry battalions, and two rifle battalions.

Motorized Brigades

Motorized Brigades are similarly organized but typically feature wheeled versus tracked transport, again with some exceptions. They are often equipped with U.S. up-armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) or similar vehicles and may have more than three infantry battalions. Organic artillery is usually towed or wheeled.

There are currently seven motorized infantry brigades:

56th Motorized Brigade

57th Motorized Brigade

58th Motorized Brigade

141st Motorized Brigade

142nd Motorized Brigade

143rd Motorized Brigade

144th Motorized Brigade

Specialized Brigades

Specialized Brigades of the Ukrainian Ground Forces also include several special brigades with somewhat non-standard organizations. For example, the 92nd Assault Brigade has five “assault” battalions, a motorized infantry battalion, and a tank battalion. The 68th Jaeger Brigade has three mechanized infantry battalions, two “rifle” battalions, and a tank battalion. Assault brigades are trained specifically for offensive operations. Jaeger brigades were originally formed for service in forested or swampy terrain, such as the Pripyat Marshes. They are “middleweight” brigades, heavier than territorial defense brigades but lighter than mechanized brigades. Mountain assault brigades are large formations comprising up to seven maneuver battalions, specially trained and equipped for fighting in mountainous terrain. All, however, may be committed where needed.

There are seven specialized brigades:

3rd Special Assault Brigade

5th Assault Brigade

10th Mountain Assault Brigade

68th Jaeger Brigade

92nd Assault Brigade

128th Mountain Assault Brigade

152nd Jaeger Brigade

Note: The 71st Jaeger brigade is assigned to the Air Assault Forces.

Artillery Brigades

In addition to the artillery groups found in maneuver brigades, the Ukrainian Ground Forces are supported by artillery brigades capable of delivering massed fires to reinforce brigade artillery groups. These are assigned to the corps headquarters now forming. The wide variety of artillery systems and ammunition, combined with very high ammunition consumption rates, contributes to logistical challenges that can hinder operations.

Ukrainian tracked self-propelled artillery units are equipped with the 2S1 (122mm), 2S3 (152mm), 2S5 (152mm), 2S7 (203mm), 2S19 (152mm), the U.S. M109A6 (155mm), the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 (155mm), the Polish AHS Krab (155mm), the U.K. AS-90 (155mm), and the Turkish T-155 Firtina (155mm).

Wheeled self-propelled systems include the Ukrainian 2S22 (155mm), the French CAESAR (155mm), the Swedish Archer (155mm), the Czech DANA (152mm), and the Slovak Zuzana (155mm). The German RCH-155, a revolutionary 155mm wheeled self-propelled artillery platform that can fire on the move, will be fielded in Ukraine beginning in 2025.

Towed systems include the D-30 (122mm), D-20 (152mm), M-46 (130mm), 2A36 (152mm), 2A65 (152mm), 2P22 (155mm), the U.S. M101A1 (105mm), the U.S. M119 (105mm), the U.K. L118 (105mm), the U.S. M114 (155mm), the U.S. M777 (155mm), the NATO FH-70 (155mm), the French TRF-1 (155mm), and the Italian OTO-Melara Mod 56 (105mm). The towed 100 mm BS-3, 2A19, and 2A20 guns are found in the anti-tank battalions of most Ukrainian brigades, but are often employed in indirect fire mode. Some units may be equipped with the World War II-era 85mm D-44 and D-48 guns.

Rocket systems include the venerable BM-21 “Grad” (122mm), the BM-27 “Uragan” (220mm), the BM-30 “Smerch” (300mm), the TOS-1 (220mm), the 9A52-4 “Tornado” in several variants, the U.S. M270 MLRS (227mm), the U.S. M142 HIMARS (227mm), the Turkish TRG-230 (230mm), and the Vilkha MLRS (300mm). Ukraine has one missile brigade equipped with the Tochka-U ballistic missile system.

There are currently 12 artillery brigades belonging to the Ground Forces:

19th Missile Brigade (Tochka-U, BM-30)

26th Artillery Brigade (AHS Krab, 2S22)

27th Rocket Artillery Brigade (BM-27, M142)

40th Artillery Brigade (M777, AHS Krab, 2A65)

43rd Artillery Brigade (2S7, PzH 2000, Archer)

44th Artillery Brigade (M777, FH70, 2S22, 2A36)

45th Artillery Brigade (Archer, 2S22, M777, 2A65)

47th Artillery Brigade (2A36, 2A65, 2S22, 2P22)

48th Artillery Brigade (2S22, BM-27)

49th Artillery Brigade (AS-90, 2A65, 2S22)

55th Artillery Brigade (Caesar, 2A65 Msta-B, 2A36)

107th Rocket Artillery Brigade (9K58 BM-30, Vilkha MLRS, M270)

Note: The 15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade is a specialized unit that employs variants of the Ukrainian Shark reconnaissance drone to locate targets at ranges of up to 180 kilometers (112 miles).

Aviation Brigades

The Ground Forces are supported by rotary wing aviation brigades equipped with Mi-2, Mi-8, and Mi-24 helicopters. Aviation brigades typically consist of three squadrons and are assigned to a specific corps. To conserve airframe, troop transport, air assault, and helicopter gunship operations are relatively rare due to the threat posed by Russian air defense. Reports indicate that as of December 2024, there are 109 airframes in service.

There are four army aviation brigades:

11th Army Aviation Brigade

12th Army Aviation Brigade

16th Army Aviation Brigade

18th Army Aviation Brigade

Air Defense Regiments

The Ground Forces include four air defense regiments for point defense of high-value targets such as command posts. They are equipped with similar systems to those found in the air defense battalions of Ukrainian brigades.

These units are:

1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (2K22 Tunguska)

1027th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Gepard)

1039th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (2K12 Cub, 9k33 Osa)

1139th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (2K12 Cub)

Ukrainian Air Force

The Russian Aerospace Forces significantly outmatch the Ukrainian Air Force, but they have excelled in denying Russia control of the air and in preserving their scarce assets. The Air Force General Command is divided into four Air Commands: West, Central, South, and East. There are currently 105 reported combat aircraft (7 F-16, 45 MiG-29, 13 SU-24, 17 SU-25, 23 SU-27). An unknown number of French Mirage 2000 aircraft are also fielded. Fighter/bomber aircraft are organized in seven tactical aviation brigades. The Air Force also includes all mid- and high-altitude air defense units, organized in 14 antiaircraft brigades and regiments as shown. In addition to legacy SA-22, S-300, and Buk-M1 systems, the Ukrainian Air Force operates the French Crotale, U.S. Hawk, U.S. Patriot, Norwegian NASAMS, Italian Aspide, and other systems for medium- and high-altitude air defense. The current commander is Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko.

Fighter/Bomber Units

7th Tactical Aviation Brigade (SU-24)

39th Tactical Aviation Brigade (SU-27)

40th Tactical Aviation Brigade (MiG-29)

114th Tactical Aviation Brigade (MiG-29)

204th Tactical Aviation Brigade (MiG-29)

299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (SU-25)

831st Tactical Aviation Brigade (SU-27)

Note: The Ukrainian Air Force also includes the 1st Air Force Combined Rifle Brigade and the 383rd Unmanned Aircraft Brigade, equipped with the Turkish Bayraktar TB2.

Air Defense Units

11th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Buk-M1)

14th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (MiM Hawk)

38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Crotale)

39th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (OSA-AKM)

96th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (S-300)

138th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (S-300)

156th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Buk-M1)

160th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (S-300)

174th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (S-300)

201st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (S-300)

208th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (S-300)

223rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Buk-M1)

301st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (S-300)

302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Buk-M1)

540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (S-300

Ukrainian Navy

All major Ukrainian Navy surface combatants were captured, destroyed, or scuttled in 2014 when Crimea was lost, leaving only patrol craft and smaller vessels. The Ukrainian Navy, however, has achieved great success with anti-ship missiles, such as the R-360 Neptune, as well as unmanned surface vessels or drones (see EDM, November 8, 13, 2024). The Main Intelligence Directorate’s “Group 13” unmanned surface unit operates in the Black Sea with advanced systems such as the Magura-V5 and has been responsible for many successful actions, but it is not part of the navy. In April 2022, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser Moskva, was sunk by Ukrainian naval action (see EDM, July 25, 2023). In the following months, a further 22 were sunk or damaged. Since then, Russian surface vessels have been driven from their anchorage at Sevastopol in Crimea by the Ukrainian Navy (see EDM, November 8, 2022, March 11, 26, August 13 [1], [2], 2024, February 10). The current commander of the Ukrainian Navy is Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa.

Principal combat units are:

P153 Pryluky (Matka class patrol boat)

P191 Starobilsk (Island class patrol boat)

P192 Sumy (Island class patrol boat)

P193 Fastiy (Island class patrol boat)

P175 Berdyansk (Gyurza-M class patrol boat)

P176 Nikopol (Gyurza-M class patrol boat)

P180 Kostopil (Gyurza-M class patrol boat)

P181 Bucha (Gyurza-M class patrol boat)

Note: The 10th Naval Aviation Brigade employs fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft for transport and search and rescue, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. The Ukrainian navy also fields a small underwater special operations unit, the 801st Special Marine Detachment.

Ukrainian Marine Corps

The Ukrainian Marine Corps was separated from the Navy and established as a separate branch of service in 2023. Marine brigades include 3–4 naval infantry battalions, a tank battalion, and standard enablers. Their primary missions are expeditionary operations, amphibious assault, and coastal defense. Although supported by the Ukrainian Navy, the Ukrainian Marines lack the amphibious assault craft needed for large-scale amphibious operations. A corps headquarters, the 30th Corps, is now forming. The current commander is Major General Dmytro Delyatytskyi.

There are four Marine infantry brigades with a fifth planned, supported by two coastal defense brigades, two artillery brigades, and a drone brigade:

35th Marine Brigade

36th Marine Brigade

37th Marine Brigade

38th Marine Brigade

39th Coastal Defense Brigade

40th Coastal Defense Brigade

32nd Rocket Artillery Brigade (BM-21, BM-27)

406th Artillery Brigade (D-20, 2A36, M777)

414th Strike Unmanned Aerial Systems Brigade

Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Ukraine’s air assault forces are a separate branch of service, similar to their Russian counterparts, and, in theory, are trained to conduct heliborne or parachute operations. In practice, a lack of aircraft and a high air defense threat usually restricts them to conventional operations. As elite troops, they are generally better equipped and manned and are expected to fight with higher morale. The 25th Airborne Brigade is the only formation capable of parachute operations. Unusually, it is equipped with BMD-series infantry fighting vehicles instead of the BMP. Unlike other brigades, air assault brigades have a tank company, rather than a tank battalion. Their artillery groups include one D-30 122mm towed battalion and one 2S1 122mm self-propelled battalion, but do not include any heavier howitzers. In addition to the airborne and air assault/airmobile units, a Jaeger brigade and an artillery brigade are attached. Two corps headquarters, the 7th and 8th, are now forming. The current commander is Brigadier General Ihor Skybiuk.

The Air Assault Forces include ten combat brigades and a supporting artillery brigade:

25th Airborne Brigade

45th Air Assault Brigade

46th Air Assault Brigade

71st Jaeger Brigade

77th Airmobile Brigade

79th Air Assault Brigade

80th Air Assault Brigade

81st Airmobile Brigade

82nd Air Assault Brigade

95th Air Assault Brigade

148th Artillery Brigade (2S3)

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces

The Ukrainian Special Operations Command is independent of the Ground Forces and reports directly to the Minister of Defense through the Commander of the Armed Forces. Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) are highly selective, secretive, well-trained, and equipped. Their missions include direct action, strategic reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism. Where Russian SOF have sustained heavy losses due to misuse as assault infantry, Ukrainian SOF is more often employed selectively against strategic targets. Their commander is currently Brigadier General Oleksandr Trepak.

Known SOF organizations include:

3rd Special Forces Regiment (Separate Special Operations Center East)

4th Special Forces Regiment

7th Special Forces Regiment

8th Special Forces Regiment (Separate Special Operations Center West)

140th Special Forces Regiment

144th Special Operations Center

Note: The 140th Special Forces Regiment is the most secretive of Ukrainian SOF organizations and is reportedly an all-officer unit. The Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU, Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrainy; СБУ, Служба безпеки України) also fields the “Alpha” Group, a “tier one” SOF unit independent of the Special Operations Command. The SBU reports directly to the president. The Ukrainian Navy and National Guard also field special operations units.

Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces

The Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) are a separate branch of service reporting to the Minister of Defense and not subordinate to the Ground Forces. As the military reserve of Ukraine, they are organized with a brigade in each region and a battalion in each district. Territorial defense brigades are intended for local defense but are often used to augment regular formations. They lack the artillery group, tank battalion, and other enablers found in regular brigades, but can have up to 8 infantry battalions. The current commander of the Territorial Defense Forces is Major General Ihor Plakhuta.

There are currently 30 TDF brigades:

1st Bohun Defense Brigade

100th Volyn Defense Brigade

101st Transcarpathian Defense Brigade

102nd Ivano-Frankivsk Defense Brigade

103rd Lviv Defense Brigade

104th Rivne Defense Brigade

105th Ternopil Defense Brigade

106th Khmelnytskyi Defense Brigade

107th Chernivtsi Defense Brigade

125th Lviv City Defense Brigade

108th Dnipro Defense Brigade

109th Donetsk Defense Brigade

110th Zaporizhzhia Defense Brigade

111th Luhansk Defense Brigade

113th Kharkiv Defense Brigade

127th Kharkiv City Defense Brigade

128th Dnipro City Defense Brigade

129th Kryvyi Rih Defense Brigade

112th Kyiv City Defense Brigade

114th Kyiv Oblast Defense Brigade

115th Zhytomyr Defense Brigade

116th Poltava Defense Brigade

117th Sumy Defense Brigade

118th Cherkasy Defense Brigade

119th Chernihiv Defense Brigade

120th Vinnytsia Defense Brigade

121st Kirovohrad Defense Brigade

122nd Odesa Defense Brigade

123rd Mykolaiv Defense Brigade

241st Territorial Defense Brigade

Ukrainian National Guard

National Guard units belong to the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior and are generally used for static protection of key sites and to maintain security and public order. Founded in 1991, the National Guard was disbanded but reinstated in 2014 following the Maidan revolution. During wartime, National Guard units are subordinated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The National Guard is organized geographically with five territorial commands: Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, and Central. Many of its brigades are used in combat, similar to regular army brigades. Although not standardized, most include at least three infantry battalions, along with tank, artillery, air defense, and reconnaissance sub-units. Two corps headquarters, the 1st and 2nd, are now forming. The current commander of the Ukrainian National Guard is Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko.

There are 17 National Guard infantry brigades and one artillery brigade:

1st Burevii Brigade

2nd Galician Brigade

3rd Spartan Brigade

4th Rubizh Brigade

5th Slobozhansk Brigade

11th Hrushevsky Brigade

12th Azov Brigade

13th Khartiia Brigade

14th Chervona Kalyna Brigade

15th Kara-Dag Brigade

16th Artillery Brigade (2S22, Zusana)

17th Poltavska Brigade

18th Sloviansk Brigade

21st Kalnyshevsky Brigade

22nd Kyivan Rus Brigade

23rd Khortytsia Brigade

25th Prince Askold Brigade

31st Oleksandr Radievskyi Brigade

Note: The National Guard also fields an elite special operations unit called the Omega Group.

Ukrainian Border Guard

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is a specialized enforcement agency responsible for protecting Ukraine’s state borders on land, sea, and inland waters. During wartime, Border Guard units come under the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They were the first Ukrainian forces to resist the Russian full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. The Ukrainian Border Guards field four “assault” brigades equipped with tanks, artillery, and air defense. In peacetime, the Border Guards are part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In wartime, these units fall under the control of the Armed Forces. They are fully capable combat brigades and have seen active service against Russian forces. The commander of the State Border Police is Lieutenant General Serhii Deineko.

The four Border Police brigades are:

Hart Brigade

Pomsta Brigade

Forpost Brigade

Stalevyi Kordon Brigade

Ukrainian National Police

The National Police is the only police force in Ukraine and is responsible for local law enforcement, criminal investigations, traffic control, and detention operations. There are two combat brigades, each with multiple infantry battalions supported by organic artillery and air defense. Similar to the Territorial Defense and Border Guard brigades, they have seen extensive service in eastern Ukraine. The commander of the National Police is General (3rd Rank) Ivan Vyhivskyi.

The National Police combat brigades are:

Khyzhak Brigade

Lyut Brigade

Unmanned Systems Forces

In 2024, Ukraine created the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) as a separate branch of the Armed Forces, reporting to the Commander-in-Chief. The organization has two principal functions: to provide a bridge between the military and the private sector, fostering and enhancing the application of drone technology to national defense; and to conduct combat operations using unmanned systems. The USF commander is Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi.

The USF includes three brigades engaged in active operations:

9th Unmanned Systems Brigade

59th Assault Brigade

385th Naval Unmanned Surface Vehicles Brigade