Active 1992–present Type Airborne Forces Headquarters Kiev | Country Ukraine Part of Armed Forces | |
 | ||
Role Light Infantry
Airmobile infantry
Peacekeeping | ||
The Ukrainian Airmobile Forces or VDV (from "Vysokomobil'ni desantni viyska Ukrayiny", Ukrainian: Високомобільні десантні війська України, ВДВ; High-mobile Airborne Forces of Ukraine) is the military branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 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.
Contents
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.
2001 Structure
In 2001 the Airmobile Force consisted of:
2008 Structure
Present Structure
Commanders
The commander of the Airmobile Forces since 2 August 2015 is Major general Mykhailo Zabrodskyi.
Armament
Equipment of the Airmobile Forces is similar to the equipment used by Russian Airborne Troops.
Personal 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