Ukrainian Air Assault Forces


The Air Assault Forces of Ukraine, known until 2017 as the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces, are the air assault infantry and airborne forces with armoured cavalry capabilities of Armed 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 military 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 assault and airborne operations, combined arms, counterinsurgency in the terrains they are trained on, drone warfare, maneuver warfare, military education and training related to air assault and airborne warfare, and peacekeeping. Before the Russo-Ukrainian War they were also the main forces sent by Ukraine to peacekeeping missions around the world. They are considered the elite of Ukraine's armed forces.
FB vdv.mil.gov.uaYT UCxMi_MKqZS7XhtaQ7zreekA

History

The Ukrainian Airmobile Forces were created in 1992 as part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, from units of the Soviet Airborne Forces stationed on Ukrainian territory after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 25 December 1991. 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.
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.

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.
In 2016, the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces became an independent branch of the Armed Forces. Previously, they were part of Ukrainian Ground Forces.
On 21 November 2017 President Petro Poroshenko stated that 469 Ukrainian paratroopers had been killed in the Russo-Ukrainian War. On 21 November 2018 he adjusted this to 487 killed.

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. 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." 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."
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". The color of the Ukrainian paratroopers was changed to maroon, 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.
On 6 November 2025 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy moved Ukraine's Air Assault Forces Day to 8 November because according to the Revised Julian calendar the feast day of its patron Saint Michael is celebrated on 8 November.

Russian invasion

Beginning Thursday, 24 February 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 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.
Losses
As of February 20, 2024, the air assault forces suffered a total of 3,104 soldiers killed in action, according to publicly available information. This increased to at least 6,526 KIA as of July, 2025, with the 95th Air Assault Brigade suffering the most KIAs.

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:
UnitBase #LocationStatus
Headquarters 1st Airmobile DivisionА0220BolhradInactive since 2003
25th Airborne BrigadeА1126Hvardiiske
45th Airmobile BrigadeА1533Bolhrad
27th Mechanized BrigadeА0664Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi
91st Artillery RegimentА0242Veselyi Kut
95th Airmobile BrigadeА0281Zhytomyr
79th Airmobile RegimentА0224Mykolaiv
80th Airmobile RegimentА0284Lviv

Commanders

NameRankPeriod of command
Vitaly RaevskyMajor general1992–1998
Colonel1998–2005
Colonel2005–2012
Oleksandr ShvetsColonel2012–2015
Mykhailo ZabrodskyiLieutenant generalMarch 2015 – August 2019
Yevhen MoisiukMajor generalAugust 2019 – 9 August 2021
Major general9 August 2021 – 11 February 2024
Ihor SkybiukMajor general11 February 2024 – 3 June 2025
Oleh ApostolBrigadier general3 June 2025

Armament

Personal firearms

Armored vehicles

Artillery

Vehicles