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Further Reading

Ground Forces

The Army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was formed as an organic structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the basis of the Decree of the President of Ukraine according to the Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Armed Forces of Ukraine" in 1996. The Army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is the main possessor of the combat power of the Armed Forces of the independent Ukrainian country. According to the its designation and tasks, the Army is a decisive factor in peace and wartime.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the declaration of independence in 1991, Ukraine inherited one of the most powerful groups of troops in Europe, equipped with nuclear weapons and enough modern armaments and military equipment. On August 24, 1991 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a decision to take under its jurisdiction all located in the Ukraine military formations of the Armed Forces of the USSR, and the creation of one of the key agencies - the Ministry of Defence. On 24 August 1991 under the jurisdiction of Ukraine passed: 14 infantry, 4 tank, 3 artillery divisions and 8 artillery brigades, 4 Special Forces Brigades [spetsnaz], 2 Airborne Brigades, 9 air defense brigades, 7 regiments of combat helicopters, three air armies (about 1,100 combat aircraft) and a separate Air Defense Army. At the time of the proclamation of Ukrainian independence the number of troops in the Ukraine there were about 700,000 troops.

The legal basis to develop this Force was the Decree of the President of Ukraine On Ukrainian Ground Forces, signed in May 1996. The Ground Forces Command was set up and the Ground Forces organic structure was developed in accordance with this Decree.

The Ground Forces consists of 3 Operational commands. Major commands include 5 Army Corps, 11 Tank and Mechanized Divisions, 7 Mechanized Brigades, 2 Artillery Divisions, 2 Training Divisions and 40 combined arms brigades. The Ground Forces include the following branches: Missile Troops and Artillery, Mechanized, Tank, Air Mobile, Army Aviation. The Ground Forces are the biggest (by size) service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, about 180,000 men.

The Ground Forces are implementing a plan, drawn up in 2000, that calls for reducing the forces from its current 300,000 to 240,000 by 2015, switching from a conscript based force to a fully professional military, and putting the military under civilian control. Even though the military received little more than half of the Hr 68 million it was allotted for reform in 2001, officials were able to disband nine regiments and close 21 local military bases.

According to the State Program of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reform and development until 2005, GF will have the biggest ratio of personnel among the others AF services (up to 54%). This ratio is based on the missions assigned to the AF services and also on the fact that current economical situation in the country prevents implementing military and technical achievements in all areas. However, Ground Forces hold the priority in personnel ratio, weapons and military equipment development prioritizes the development of their future systems, which will correspond to modern warfare requirements. The GF closely coordinates their assignments with each AF branches, engaging appropriate military arts and equipment. They also participate in law enforcement activities during emergencies, deal with consequences of natural and technological disasters, provide military assistance to other countries, engage in international military cooperation activities and international peacekeeping operations according to international agreements.

Also, in compliance with The State Program, AF will establish by late 2005 a Rapid Reaction Corps within the Ground Forces, as well as an Aviation Group (operational) in the Air Force and a Combined Squadron in the Navy, capable to operate both independently and in a combined formation, under a unified command.

In the short term, conversion to a professional army will not save money because training and housing professional soldiers costs more than supporting recruits. But in the long term the reduced number of soldiers serving longer terms will not only save the military money, but will also allow better training of its forces. Instead of spending all of its money on feeding and housing ill trained recruits, money will be spent maintaining fewer, but better trained professionals.

Mechanized and armored force, which make a basis of the Army, execute tasks of holding the occupied areas, lines and positions tasks of enemy's impacts repelling, of penetrating enemy's defence lines, of defeating the enemy forces, of capturing the important areas, lines and objects, operate in structure of marine and landing troops. Mechanized and armored forces consist of mechanized and armoured divisions and brigades. Formations and units of mechanized and armored forces are equipped by: T-64, T-72, T-80, T-84 tanks; BTR-60, BTR-70, BTR-80 armoured personnel-carriers; BMP-1, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles; other types of armaments.

Rocket troops and artillery of the Army consist of formations of operational-tactical and tactical missiles, of formations and units of howitzer, cannon, jet-propelled and anti-tank artillery, of artillery reconnaissance, of mortar units and of units of anti-tank missiles. They are assigned to destroy human resources, tanks, artillery, anti-tanks enemy weapons, aircraft, objects of air defense and other important objects during the combat arms operations. Formations, units and elements of Rocket troops and artillery are equipped by: missile complexes of operational-tactical and tactical missiles; multi-launcher rocket systems, as Smerch, Uragan, Grad; Giacint, Pion, Akacia, Gvozdika howitzers; Shturm, Konkurs, Rapira anti-tank weapons.

The Army aviation is the most maneuverable branch of the Army, intended to conduct the tasks under different conditions of combat arms operations. Units and elements of the Army aviation provide reconnaissance, defeat weapons, equipment and humane resources of enemy, give fire support during the offence or counterattack, land tactical troops, deliver combat weapons and personnel at the specified areas, execute other main tasks. The Army consists of brigades and regiments of the Army aviation. Formations and units of the Army aviation are equipped by Mi-8, Mi-24 and their modifications.

The airmobile forces is a highly mobile component of the Army. The airmobile forces consists of formations, units and elements of the Army and the Army aviation, that well trained for combined activities in the rear of the enemy. The airmobile forces is in constant combat readiness and is the high mobility branch of forces, that is capable of conducting any task under any conditions. The airmobile forces consists of airmobile division, single airmobile brigades and regiments.

The Army Air Defense covers troops against enemy attacks from air in all kinds of combat operations, during regrouping and dislocation on terrain. The Army Air Defense is equipped by effective surface-to-air missile systems and complexes of division level and antiaircraft missile and artillery complexes of regiment level characterized by high rate of fire, vitality, maneuverability, by capability of action under all conditions of modern combat arms operations. Surface-to-air missile systems and complexes of division level are equipped by surface-to-air missile complexes Osa, Kub, Tor. Antiaircraft missile and artillery complexes of regiment level are equipped by antiaircraft missile complexes Strila-10, Tunguska, Igla, Shilka.