Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
| Ukrainian Air Assault Forces | |
|---|---|
| Десантно-штурмові війська України | |
Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces | |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Type | Rapid reaction force Airborne forces |
| Role | Air assault Anti-aircraft warfare Anti-tank warfare Armoured warfare Artillery observer Casualty evacuation Close-quarters battle Combined arms Counter-battery fire Counterinsurgency Counter-sniper tactics Drone warfare Fire support Forward air control Indirect fire ISTAR Maneuver warfare Military education and training Mountain warfare Parachuting Peacekeeping Raiding Reconnaissance Screening Tracking Urban warfare |
| Size | 35,000 (2024) |
| Part of | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Headquarters | Zhytomyr |
| Patron | Saint Michael |
| Mottos | Завжди перші! (Always first!) |
| Color of beret | Maroon |
| Anniversaries | Air Assault Forces Day (8 November) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Oleg Apostle |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | |
| Garrison color | |
| Shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Beret insignia | |
The Air Assault Forces of Ukraine (abbr. AAFU; Ukrainian: Десантно-штурмові війська України, romanized: Desantno-shturmovi viiska Ukrainy, pronounced [deˌsɑntnoʃtʊrmoˈwi wijˈsʲkɑ ʊkrɐˈjinɪ], abbr. ДШВ, DShV), 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 (VDV) were absorbed into the newly created Ukrainian Ground Forces (SVZSU), 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.