Ukrainian Airmobile Forces
Encyclopedia
The airmobile force is a highly mobile component of the Ukrainian Ground Forces
.
The airmobile forces consist of formations, units and elements of the Army and the Army aviation
, trained for combined activities behind the enemy lines.
The airmobile forces are in constant combat readiness and are the high mobility branch of forces, that are capable of conducting any task under any conditions.
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 Congo
.
More than 240 members of the 81st Tactical Group in Iraq have served in different units of airmobile forces.
Serhiy Lysovyi.
Personnel firearms
Armoured Vehicles
Only one Brigade, the 25th
is currently using BMD-1
and BMD-2
armored fighting vehicles. The 95th Brigade
, the 79th Brigade
and 80th Regiment
use BTR-80
.
Artillery
Ukrainian Ground Forces
The Ukrainian Ground Forces are the land force component of the Military of Ukraine. They were formed from Soviet Army formations, units, and establishments, including three military districts , that were on Ukrainian soil when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990-92.Between the fall of the USSR and...
.
The airmobile forces consist of formations, units and elements of the Army and the Army aviation
Army aviation
Army Aviation refers to aviation-related units of a nation's army, often described as an air corps. These units are generally separate from a nation's dedicated air force, and usually comprise helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft....
, trained for combined activities behind the enemy lines.
The airmobile forces are in constant combat readiness and are the high mobility branch of forces, that are capable of conducting any task under any conditions.
Peacekeeping Missions
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
More than 240 members of the 81st Tactical Group in Iraq have served in different units of airmobile forces.
2001 Structure
In 2001 the Airmobile Force consisted of:| Unit | Base # | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters 1st Airmobile Division 1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine) The 1st Airmobile Division was a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces from January 1, 1993 until it was disbanded in 2003.Brigade was located in Bolhrad.-Structure:Structure of the division in 2001... |
А0220 | Bolhrad Bolhrad Bolhrad sometimes known as Bolgrad is a small city in Odessa Oblast of south-western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Bolhrad Raion , and is located at around .... |
inactive since 2003 |
| 25th Airborne Brigade 25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine) The 25th Separate Dnipropetrovsk Airborne Brigade is an airborne formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. .It is the only airmobile unit of Ukrainian Airborne Forces which has BMD-1 and BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicles in its inventory... |
А1126 | Bolhrad Bolhrad Bolhrad sometimes known as Bolgrad is a small city in Odessa Oblast of south-western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Bolhrad Raion , and is located at around .... |
|
| 45th Airmobile Brigade | А1533 | Bolhrad Bolhrad Bolhrad sometimes known as Bolgrad is a small city in Odessa Oblast of south-western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Bolhrad Raion , and is located at around .... |
|
| 27th Mechanized Brigade | А0664 | Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi is a city situated on the right bank of the Dniester Liman in the Odessa Oblast of southwestern Ukraine, in the historical region of Bessarabia... |
|
| 91st Artilery Regiment | А0242 | Veseliy Kut | |
| 95th Airmobile Brigade 95th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine) The 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade , the main ground forces component of Ukraine’s rapid reaction force. Brigade is located in Zhytomyr.The brigade is one of the Ukrainian Partnership for Peace units.-History:... |
А0281 | Zhytomyr Zhytomyr Zhytomyr is a city in the North of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zhytomyr Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Zhytomyr Raion... |
|
| 79th Airmobile Regiment 79th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine) The 79th Airmobile Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces.Brigade is located in Mykolaiv.For their transport the Brigade uses UAZ fitted with DShK anti-aircraft machine gun, 2B14 Podnos 82mm mortar, SPG-9D, AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher.... |
А0224 | Mykolaiv Mykolaiv Mykolaiv , also known as Nikolayev , is a city in southern Ukraine, administrative center of the Mykolaiv Oblast. Mykolaiv is the main ship building center of the Black Sea, and, arguably, the whole Eastern Europe.-Name of city:... |
|
| 80th Airmobile Regiment 80th Airmobile Regiment (Ukraine) The 80th Airmobile Regiment is an airmobile formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The regiment is part of the 13th Army Corps.-History:... |
А0284 | Khyriv Khyriv Khyriv is a small town in Lviv Oblast of Ukraine.It housed a Jesuit college, Zakład Naukowo-Wychowawczy Ojców Jezuitów w Chyrowie, then in Poland.Population is 4,590 .... |
|
| 1st Airmobile Division 1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine) The 1st Airmobile Division was a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces from January 1, 1993 until it was disbanded in 2003.Brigade was located in Bolhrad.-Structure:Structure of the division in 2001... |
|
| Separate Brigade | |
| Separate Regiments |
2008 Structure
-
25th Airborne Brigade25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine)The 25th Separate Dnipropetrovsk Airborne Brigade is an airborne formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. .It is the only airmobile unit of Ukrainian Airborne Forces which has BMD-1 and BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicles in its inventory... -
95th Airmobile Brigade95th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine)The 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade , the main ground forces component of Ukraine’s rapid reaction force. Brigade is located in Zhytomyr.The brigade is one of the Ukrainian Partnership for Peace units.-History:... -
79th Airmobile Brigade79th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine)The 79th Airmobile Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces.Brigade is located in Mykolaiv.For their transport the Brigade uses UAZ fitted with DShK anti-aircraft machine gun, 2B14 Podnos 82mm mortar, SPG-9D, AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher.... -
80th Airmobile Regiment80th Airmobile Regiment (Ukraine)The 80th Airmobile Regiment is an airmobile formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The regiment is part of the 13th Army Corps.-History:... -
28th Training Battalion28th Training Battalion (Ukraine)The 28th Training Battalion is an airmobile training formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.-History:In 1998 the Battalion was relocated to Mykolaiv.In 2005 the Battalion was relocated to urban-type settlement Desna, Chernihiv Oblast....
Commanders
The Commander of the Airmobile Forces since 2005 is ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Serhiy Lysovyi.
| Name | Rank | Period of command |
|---|---|---|
| Vitaly Raevsky Vitaly Raevsky Vitaliy Anatoliovich Raevskiy is a Ukrainian Reserves Major General. Who formerly formed and commanded all of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces.- Early career :... |
Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
1992 - 1998 |
| Ivan Yakubets | Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... |
1998 - 2005 |
| Serhiy Lysovyi | Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... |
2005 - present |
Armament
Equipment of the Airmobile Forces is similar to the equipment used by Russian Airborne Troops.Personnel firearms
- PMMakarov PMThe PM is a semi-automatic pistol design. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military side arm from 1951-1991.-Development:...
, semi-automatic pistol (9x18mm) - AKS-74, para assault rifle (AK-74AK-74The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
with folding skeleton buttstock) (5.45x39mm) - AKS-74U, para assault rifle carbine (5.45x39mm)
- AKMS, para assault rifle (7.62x39mm)
- RPKS-74, the light weight para machinegun (5.45x39mm)
- PKM, general purpose machine gunGeneral purpose machine gunA general-purpose machine gun is a multi-purpose weapon: it is a machine gun firing a full-power rifle cartridge and which can be used in a variety of roles, from a bipod- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon to a helicopter door gun or a vehicle-mounted support weapon...
(7.62x54mm) - Dragunov SVDS sniper rifle (7.62x54mm)
- GP-25 and GP-30GP-30The GP-30 Obuvka , GP-25 Kostyor and BG-15 Mukha are Russian under barrel grenade launchers for the AK-series of assault rifle. They were first seen by the west in 1984 during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. The initial version was designated BG-15, and was fitted under the barrel of AK-74...
, the under-barrel 40mm grenade launchers for fragmentation and gas grenades which are attached to AKS-74 of some paratroopers to increase firepower for combating enemy foot troops - AGS-17AGS-17The AGS-17 Plamya is a Soviet-designed automatic grenade launcher currently in production in the Russian Federation and in service worldwide.-Description:...
“Plamya” (Flame), the automatic grenade launcher - deadly against enemy foot troops but ineffective against even lightly armored vehicles, it will probably be replaced by a much lighter AGS-30 or less likely by some other model in an upcoming rearmament
Armoured Vehicles
Only one Brigade, the 25th
25th Airborne Brigade (Ukraine)
The 25th Separate Dnipropetrovsk Airborne Brigade is an airborne formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. .It is the only airmobile unit of Ukrainian Airborne Forces which has BMD-1 and BMD-2 airborne infantry fighting vehicles in its inventory...
is currently using BMD-1
BMD-1
The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta . It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller...
and BMD-2
BMD-1
The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta . It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller...
armored fighting vehicles. The 95th Brigade
95th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine)
The 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade , the main ground forces component of Ukraine’s rapid reaction force. Brigade is located in Zhytomyr.The brigade is one of the Ukrainian Partnership for Peace units.-History:...
, the 79th Brigade
79th Airmobile Brigade (Ukraine)
The 79th Airmobile Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces.Brigade is located in Mykolaiv.For their transport the Brigade uses UAZ fitted with DShK anti-aircraft machine gun, 2B14 Podnos 82mm mortar, SPG-9D, AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher....
and 80th Regiment
80th Airmobile Regiment (Ukraine)
The 80th Airmobile Regiment is an airmobile formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The regiment is part of the 13th Army Corps.-History:...
use BTR-80
BTR-80
BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
.
Artillery
- 2S9 “Nona-S” configuration of 2S9 Anona2S9 AnonaThe 2S9 NONA is a self-propelled 120 mm mortar designed by the Soviet Union and entering service in 1981...
, 120mm self-propelled mortar - ZU-23-2, an aged but effective and powerful design of a double barrel 23mm anti-aircraft gun, commonly used against infantry and even APCs and IFVs, it is ether mounted on any amphibious hulls, usually based on PT-76PT-76The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious light tank which was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armed forces. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Iraq, North Korea and North Vietnam. Overall,...
light tank, or can be towed by jeep or truck as it has wheels.