The military ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were established in March 1992, when Ukraine adopted the Law on Military Duty and Military Service 1992.[1]

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have two styles of ranks:

Whilst previously Ukraine maintained a USSR-style system, its current system follows a NATO standardization.

Current military rank insignia

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Introduction of NATO-style ranks

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On 17 October 2019, the parliament of Ukraine approved a change in the rank structure of enlisted men in order to conform to the NATO STANAG 2116 standardization. The change was implemented with the 2020 military reform.[2] This resulted in the abolition of the rank of General of the Army of Ukraine by Law nr. 680-IX, on 1 October 2020.[3]

Effective 23 May 2023, the Marine Corps was separated from the Navy as an independent branch of the AFU. The Corps retained the shoulder and sleeve insignia inherited from the Navy, pending the introduction of a new set of insignia designs.[citation needed]

Commissioned officer ranks

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The following are the rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ukrainian Ground Forces[4]
                     
Генерал
Heneral
Генерал-лейтенант
Heneral-leitenant
Генерал-майор
Heneral-maior
Бригадний генерал
Bryhadnyi heneral
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Майор
Maior
Капітан
Kapitan
Старший лейтенант
Starshyi leitenant
Лейтенант
Leitenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyi leitenant
  Ukrainian Navy[4]
                     
Адмірал
Admiral
Віце-адмірал
Vitse-admiral
Контр-адмірал
Kontr-admiral
Коммодор
Kommodor
Капітан I рангу
Kapitan I ranhu
Капітан II рангу
Kapitan II ranhu
Капітан III рангу
Kapitan III ranhu
Капітан-лейтенант
Kapitan-leytenant
Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant
  Ukrainian Marine Corps                      
Генерал
Heneral
Генерал-лейтенант
Heneral-leytenant
Генерал-майор
Heneral-mayor
Бригадний генерал
Bryhadnyy heneral
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Майор
Mayor
Капітан
Kapitan
Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant
  Ukrainian Air Force[4]
                     
Генерал
Heneral
Генерал-лейтенант
Heneral-leytenant
Генерал-майор
Heneral-mayor
Бригадний генерал
Bryhadnyy heneral
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Майор
Mayor
Капітан
Kapitan
Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

Student officer ranks

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Rank group Officer Cadets Students of military high schools (Lyceums)
  Ukrainian Ground Forces[4]                  
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Курсант
Kursant
Старший віце-сержант
Starshyi vice-serzhant
Віце-сержант
Vice-serzhant
Молодший віце-сержант
Molodshyi vice-serzhant
Ліцеїст
Litseyist
  Ukrainian Navy[4][5]                  
Головний старшина
Holovnyy starshyna
Старшина 1-ої статті
Starshyna 1-oyi statti
Старшина 2-ої статті
Starshyna 2-oyi statti
Старший матрос
Starshyy matros
Курсант
Kursant
Головний віце-старшина
Holovnyy vice-starshyna
Віце-старшина 1 статті
Vice-starshyna 1-oyi statti
Віце-старшина 2 статті
Vice-starshyna 2-oyi statti
Ліцеїст
Litseyist
  Ukrainian Air Force[4]          
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Курсант
Kursant
Старший віце-сержант
Starshyi vice-serzhant
Віце-сержант
Vice-serzhant
Молодший віце-сержант
Molodshyi vice-serzhant
Ліцеїст
Litseyist

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Ukrainian Ground Forces[4]
                   
Головний майстер-сержант
Holovnyi maister-serzhant
Старший майстер-сержант
Starshyi maister-serzhant
Майстер-сержант
Maister-serzhant
Штаб-сержант
Shtab-serzhant
Головний сержант
Holovnyi serzhant
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Солдат
Soldat
  Ukrainian Navy[4]
                   
Головний майстер-старшина
Holovnyy mayster-starshyna
Старший майстер-старшина
Starshyy mayster-starshyna
Майстер-старшина
Mayster-starshyna
Штаб-старшина
Shtab-starshyna
Головний корабельний старшина
Holovnyy korabelʹnyy starshyna
Головний старшина
Holovnyy starshyna
Старшина 1-ої статті
Starshyna 1-oyi statti
Старшина 2-ої статті
Starshyna 2-oyi statti
Старший матрос
Starshyy matros
Матрос
Matros
  Ukrainian Marine Corps                    
Головний майстер-сержант
Holovnyi maister-serzhant
Старший майстер-сержант
Starshyi maister-serzhant
Майстер-сержант
Maister-serzhant
Штаб-сержант
Shtab-serzhant
Головний сержант
Holovnyi serzhant
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Солдат
Soldat
  Ukrainian Air Force[4]
                   
Головний майстер-сержант
Holovnyi maister-serzhant
Старший майстер-сержант
Starshyi maister-serzhant
Майстер-сержант
Maister-serzhant
Штаб-сержант
Shtab-serzhant
Головний сержант
Holovnyi serzhant
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Солдат
Soldat
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Nomenclature

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Certain branches are suffixed with a descriptor indicating their specialty branch or if they are reservists or have retired.[6]

Branch / status Descriptor
Legal X of justice
Medical X of the medical service
Veterinary X of the veterinary service
Reserve X (Reserve)
Retired X (Retired)

Formerly, air force ranks were suffixed with "of aviation". Similarly, guards unit ranks were prefixed "guards" following the rank of a serviceman of a guards unit. These descriptors have now been abolished.[citation needed]

Former rank systems

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1991 system

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Ukraine inherited the ranks of the Soviet Union upon becoming independent, with some changes:

  • The rank "Єфрейтор" (Yefryeitor) was changed to "senior soldier"
  • The rank "private" was changed to "soldier"
  • Marshal ranks and the category of praporshchyks (midshipmen) were abolished

Officer ranks

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ukrainian Ground Forces
(1991–2009)
                     
Генерал армії України
Heneral armii Ukrainy
Генерал-полковник
Heneral-polkovnyk
Генерал-лейтенант
Heneral-leytenant
Генерал-майор
Heneral-mayor
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Майор
Mayor
Капітан
Kapitan
Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant
  Ukrainian Navy
(1991–2009)
                   
Адмірал
Admiral
Віце-адмірал
Vitse-admiral
Контр-адмірал
Kontr-admiral
Капітан I рангу
Kapitan I ranhu
Капітан II рангу
Kapitan II ranhu
Капітан III рангу
Kapitan III ranhu
Капітан-лейтенант
Kapitan-leytenant
Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant
  Ukrainian Air Force
(1991–2009)
                   
Генерал-полковник
Heneral-polkovnyk
Генерал-полковник
Heneral-polkovnyk
Генерал-майор
Heneral-mayor
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Майор
Mayor
Капітан
Kapitan
Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

Enlisted ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Ukrainian Ground Forces
(1991–2009)
               
Старший прапорщик
Starshyi praporshchyk
Прапорщик
Praporshchyk
Старшина
Starshyna
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Солдат
Soldat
  Ukrainian Navy
(1991–2009)
               
Старший мічман
Starshyi michman
Мічман
Michman
Головний корабельний старшина
Holovnyy korabelnyi starshyna
Головний старшина
Holovnyi starshyna
Старшина 1-ої статті
Starshyna 1-oi statti
Старшина 2ої статті
Starshyna 2-oi statti
Старший матрос
Starshyi matros
Матрос
Matros
  Ukrainian Air Force
(1991–2009)
               
Старший прапорщик
Starshyi praporshchyk
Прапорщик
Praporshchyk
Старшина
Starshyna
Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant
Сержант
Serzhant
Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant
Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat
Солдат
Soldat
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Proposed system 2009

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The first graduates of the Training Centre for Sergeants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kharkiv became the first professional sergeants, who wore cloth shoulder straps with a new insignia.[7]

The new insignia of the ground forces and the Air Force of Ukraine
(from general of the army to senior soldier)
The new insignia of the Ukrainian Naval Force
(from admiral to junior lieutenant)
   

These changes were aimed to conform with NATO standards. Until 2009, Ukrainian soldiers used a military rank insignia of the Soviet model. Before the changes, a Ukrainian major general could be confused with an ordinary major, as they both had only one star on the Soviet straps. The new straps of major general have two stars, like in most NATO countries.[8] Also, the new system of military insignia makes possible to introduce new ranks, such as brigade general or new types of sergeant. New straps of generals have crossed maces (bulawas), which are kleinods (regalia) of Hetman, colonel and Otaman of the Host.

These experimental insignia were never fully adopted and were abandoned shortly afterwards. Up until 2015 the Armed Forces kept using the Soviet-style insignia and rank system, albeit in the case of the Ground Forces and the Air Force the old insignia stayed with the officer corps while the 2009 proposal for NCO insignia saw wider adoption and thus replaced the Soviet insignia.

Sergeant major (the post of chief sergeant)

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Chief sergeant of a branch of the armed forces is a projected post in Ukraine. The chief sergeant is a person who knows almost all issues that relate to non-commissioned officers. Therefore, the chief sergeant of a branch of the armed forces may be adviser to the head of the appropriate level – for example, the commander of land forces of Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence is working to change the statute and, possibly, the new post was projected to be introduced c. 2012–2013.[9] In airmobile units (now Ukrainian Air Assault Forces) there were also posts of chief sergeant of the division and chief sergeant of the brigade.

2016 system

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In late July 2015, President Petro Poroshenko stated that Ukraine needed to introduce new military ranks that meet Ukrainian military traditions "and corresponds to the structure of NATO military ranks".[10] However, the system then proposed replicated the Soviet hierarchy of military ranks and had no relation to the NATO system whatsoever, with only a cosmetic change to the shoulder strap insignia.

The reform of 2016 was meant to achieve NATO standardization while honoring the traditions of Cossacks in Ukraine, the Ukrainian independence armies, and the Ukrainian People's Army of the Russian Civil War, the Ukrainian War of Independence, and the Second World War-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army, adapting their rank insignias to suit a modern AFU for the current times and beyond.[11]

Project of the new insignia of the ground forces and the Air Force of Ukraine
(Old ranks system)
Project of the new insignia of the ground forces and the Air Force of Ukraine
(Expanded ranks system)
   

While option 1 uses the old system but with new other ranks insignia, option 2 uses a US-style insignia for enlisted ranks, NCOs, and the Brigadier general rank. In both cases, all officers use pips while the General of the Army of Ukraine has the crossed Bulawa as insignia. Early proposals had the General of the Army shoulder insignia to use the state coat of arms.

Adopted new insignia of the ground forces and the Air Force of Ukraine for 2016
(Expanded ranks system)
 

In 2016, new rank insignia designs were issued for the Navy, which included both shoulder and sleeve insignia for all ranks.

Project of the new insignia of the Navy of Ukraine
(Sea ratings and other ranks of the shore establishment)
Project of the new insignia of the Navy of Ukraine
(officer ranks)
Navy sleeve insignia
     

Uniforms using the revised system debuted on 24 August 2016, as Ukraine marked the silver jubilee of nationhood.[12] The stars used for officers' ranking from the Soviet era were replaced with British military style diamonds – inspired by those used by the Ukrainian State of 1918.

The Navy planned to phase-in new insignia by 2017, with a unified set shoulder and sleeve rank insignia similar to many NATO and European Union naval forces with distinctions:

  • Western-styled sleeve insignia used for officers of the naval branch
  • Dark boards with Army-styled insignia for officers of the marine division, naval aviation and shore establishment commands

On 30 May 2019, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) adopted as a basis Bill No. 10181 on the introduction of sergeant ranks in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with the column "NATO Code" in STANAG 2116. The bill aims to improve Ukraine's legislation on military service with the aim of streamlining the disciplinary powers of officials, settlement of some issues of daily activity, determination of the rights and duties of the sergeant (officers) and some other officials of the UAF.

It was proposed to introduce a new scale of military ranks. In addition, separation of the sergeant and senior officers into junior and senior ranks (and general/flag officers for the officer corps) was foreseen, as well as the introduction of a sergeant major rank to the armed forces.

It is also envisaged to change the limitation age for military service for sergeants, which eliminates the problem when a sergeant under the law can not reach retirement due to a conflict between the current legislation.[13]

1918–1921

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Officer ranks

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ukrainian People's Army
(1919–1920)
                 
Генерал-полковник
Heneral-polkovnyk
Генерал-поручник
Heneral-poruchnyk
Генерал-хорунжий
Heneral-khorunzhyi
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Сотник
Sotnyk
Поручник
Poruchnyk
Хорунжий
Khorunzhyi
Підхорунжий
Pidkhorunzhyi
  Ukrainian People's Navy
(1918–1921)
                                   
Адмірал
Admiral
Віце-адмірал
Vitse-admiral
Контр-адмірал
Kontr-admiral
Капітан 1-го рангу
Kapitan 1-ho ranhu
Капітан 2-го рангу
Kapitan 2-ho ranhu
Старший лейтенант
Starshyi leitenant
Лейтенант
Leitenant
Мічман
Michman
Гардемарин
Gardemarin
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ukrainian Galician Army
(1918–1919)
                     
Генерал-сотник
Heneral-sotnyk
Генерал-поручник
Heneral-poruchnyk
Генерал-чотар
Heneral-chotar
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Отаман
Otaman
Сотник
Sotnyk
Поручник
Poruchnyk
Чотар
Chotar
Хорунжий
Khorunzhyi
Підхорунжий
Pidkhorunzhyi
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ukrainian Soviet Army
(1918–1919)
                     
Комфронта
Komfronta
Командарм
Komandarm
Комкор
Komkor
Комдив
Komdiv
Комбриг
Kombrig
Комполка/Полковник
Kompolka/Polkovnik
Комбат
Kombat
Помкомбат
Pomkombat
Комроты
Komroty
Помкомроты
Pomkomroty
Комвзвода
Komvzvoda

Other ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Ukrainian People's Army
(1919–1920)
         
Бунчужний
Bunchuzhnyi
Чотовий
Chotovyi
Ройовий
Royovyi
Гуртковий
Hurtkovyi
Козак
Kozak
  Ukrainian People's Navy
(1918–1921)
                   
Кондуктор
Konduktor
Боцман
Botsman
Боцманмат
Botsmanmat
Мат
Mat
Матрос
Matros
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Ukrainian Galician Army
(1918–1919)
          No insignia
Булавний десятник
Bulavnyy desyatnyk
Старший десятник
Starshyy desyatnyk
Десятник
Desyatnyk
Вістун
Vistun
Старший стрілець
Starshyy striletsʹ
Стрілець
Striletsʹ
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Ukrainian Soviet Army
(1918–1919)
      No insignia
Старшина
Starshina
Помкомвзвода
Pomkomvzvoda
Комот
Komot
Красноармеец
Krasnoarmeets

1940–1949

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Officer ranks

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Ukrainian Insurgent Army[14]
(1942–1949)
                   
Генерал-полковник
Heneral-polkovnyk
Генерал-майор
Heneral-mayor
Генерал-хорунжий
Heneral-Khorunzhyi
Полковник
Polkovnyk
Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk
Майор
Mayor
Сотник
Sotnyk
Поручник
Poruchnyk
Хорунжий
Khorunzhyi
Підхорунжий
Pidkhorunzhyi

Other ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Ukrainian Insurgent Army[14]
(1942–1949)
           
Бунчужний
Bunchuzhnyi
Чотовий
Chotovyi
Ройовий
Royovyi
Вістун
Vistun
Старший козак
Starshyi kozak
Козак
Kozak

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Про військовий обов'язок і військову службу". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  2. ^ Ponomarenko, Illia (17 October 2019). "Rada approves new ranks, NATO-style amendments to military instructions". kyivpost.com. Businessgroup LLC. Kyiv Post. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Официально: в Украине вводятся новые воинские звания". sprotyv.info/ (in Russian). 24 July 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Наказ від 04.11.2020 № 398". ips.ligazakon.net (in Ukrainian). Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ^ includes Marine Corps cadets
  6. ^ "The Law of Ukraine, On General Military Duty and Military Service" (in Ukrainian).
  7. ^ Український міліарний портал Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Комсомольская правда, Украина
  9. ^ (in Ukrainian) www.unian.net
  10. ^ Poroshenko wants to introduce new Ukrainian military ranks, UNIAN (27 July 2015)
  11. ^ Украинская армия не должна выглядеть огрызком советской, — Виталий Гайдукевич, (3 August 2015)
  12. ^ Fashion statement: Ukrainian troops debut post-Soviet uniforms, The Washington Times (25 August 2016)
  13. ^ "Нові звання у ЗСУ – законопроект прийнято за основу". www.ukrmilitary.com. Ukrainian Military Pages. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  14. ^ a b Sodol, Petro R. (1987). UPA: They Fought Hitler and Stalin. New York. p. 36. ASIN B0000EED8R.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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