Military ranks of Ukraine

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Armed Forces of Ukraine

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The military ranks of Ukraine were created in March 1992 after adopting the law of Ukraine "About Universal Military Duty and Military Service". The rank structure corresponds the generic military rank structure of the Soviet Union. Ukrainian armed forces have two styles of ranks - army, which is used by ground forces as well as aerial forces, and naval - the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukraine has eliminated the descriptor "of aviation" following the air force ranks and in 2016 the descriptor "guards" following the rank of a serviceman of a guards unit, formation or ship was officially abolished. The rank of a serviceman of the legal, medical or veterinary professions shall be followed by the words “of Justice,” “of the medical service,” or “of the veterinary service,” to their respective ranks. The rank of a citizen having reserve or retired status shall be followed by the words “reserve” or “retired,” respectively.^[1]

Ukraine also added ranks the general of Army of Ukraine as well as admiral of Ukrainian Navy.

Rank insignia currently in force[]

Introduction of STANAG 2116 ranks[]

On 17 October 2019, the parliament of Ukraine approved a change to the rank structure of enlisted in order to conform to the NATO STANAG 2116 standardization. The change would be 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]

Ground Forces, Special Operations and Air Assault Forces[]

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Ukrainian Ground Forces[4] v t
			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		Kурсант Kursant

Other Ranks and NCOs

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ukrainian Ground Forces[4] v t
	Головний майстер-сержант Holovnyy mayster-serzhant			Старший майстер-сержант Starshyy mayster-serzhant			Майстер-сержант Mayster-serzhant		Штаб-сержант Shtab-serzhant		Головний сержант Holovnyy serzhant						Старший сержант Starshyy serzhant						Сержант Serzhant				Молодший сержант Molodshyy serzhant		Старший солдат Starshyy soldat						Солдат Soldat

Air Force[]

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Ukrainian Air Force[4] v t
			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		Kурсант Kursant

Other Ranks and NCOs

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ukrainian Air Force[4] v t
	Головний майстер-сержант Holovnyy mayster-serzhant			Старший майстер-сержант Starshyy mayster-serzhant			Майстер-сержант Mayster-serzhant		Штаб-сержант Shtab-serzhant		Головний сержант Holovnyy serzhant						Старший сержант Starshyy serzhant						Сержант Serzhant				Молодший сержант Molodshyy serzhant		Старший солдат Starshyy soldat						Солдат Soldat

Navy[]

Fleet forces[]

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia
Ukrainian Navy[4] v t
			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

Naval ratings

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Shoulder insignia
Ukrainian Navy[4] v t
	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

Marine Corps, Naval Aviation and Shore Establishment[]

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia
			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		Kурсант Kursant

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Shoulder insignia
Sleeve insignia
	Головний майстер-сержант Holovnyy mayster-serzhant			Старший майстер-сержант Starshyy mayster-serzhant			Майстер-сержант Mayster-serzhant		Штаб-сержант Shtab-serzhant		Головний сержант Holovnyy serzhant						Старший сержант Starshyy serzhant						Сержант Serzhant				Молодший сержант Molodshyy serzhant		Старший солдат Starshyy soldat						Солдат Soldat

Former rank systems[]

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System 1991[]

The independent Ukraine inherited the ranks of the Soviet Union. But there were some changes. The rank of "Єфрейтор" (Êfryeitor) was changed to the "senior soldier" and the rank of private was changed to the "soldier". Also, marshall ranks and the category of praporshchyks/midshipmen were abolished.

Officer ranks

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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		Kурсант Kursant
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		Kурсант Kursant
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		Kурсант Kursant
Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Enlisted ranks

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[]

The first graduates of the Training Centre for Sergeants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kharkiv at once became the first professional sergeants, who clothed shoulder straps with a fundamentally new insignia.^[5]

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)

This innovation was aimed at the NATO standards. Until 2009, Ukrainian soldiers used a military rank insignia of the Soviet model. Before the innovation, for example, 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 the most NATO countries.^[6] Also, the new system of military insignia makes possible to introduce new ranks, such as brigade general and 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 never came into wide use 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 2009 proposal for NCO insignia gained wider acceptance and thus replaced the Soviet insignia.

Sergeant major (the post of chief sergeant)[]

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 what 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. Now, the Ministry of Defence is working to change the statute and, possibly, the new post was projected to be introduced in three or four years from 2009.^[7] In airmobile units there are also posts of chief sergeant of the division and chief sergeant of the brigade.

• 

  Sleeve patch for chief sergeant of the 1st Airmobile Division

• 

  Sleeve patch for chief sergeant of the 25th Airborne Brigade (ver. 1)

• 

  Sleeve patch for chief sergeant of the 25th Airborne Brigade (ver. 2)

• 

  Sleeve patch for chief sergeant of the Airmobile Forces

System 2009[]

System 2016[]

Late July 2015 the 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".^[8] Still, the system initially proposed just replicated the Soviet hierarchy of military ranks and had no relation to the NATO system whatsoever - the only innovation being of a purely decorative character, namely, the appearance and composition of the shoulder strap insignia.

The reform of 2016 which finally emerged will, at long last, bring the rank insignia of the Ukrainian armed forces in line with the rank systems of its NATO partners and the rest of the world, while also, if successful, honor the traditions of Cossacks in Ukraine and the Ukrainian independence armies, the Ukrainian People's Army of the Russian Civil War and the Ukrainian War of Independence and the Second World War-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army, adapting their rank insignias to suit a modern Ukrainian Armed Forces in the 21st century.^[9]

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 and NCOs plus 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 August 24, 2016 as Ukraine marked the silver jubilee of nationhood,^[10] while matching those of its future NATO partner countries should it officially join the organization it pays tribute to the many Ukrainians who made countless sacrifices for the country through the centuries. In a break with the Soviet era past, the stars used for officers' ranking were replaced with British military style diamonds - inspired by those used by the Ground Forces during the Ukrainian State of 1918.

By 2017, the insignia of the Navy will begin to be utilized, the final design being 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 May 30, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada adopted as a Basis the Bill No. 10181 on the introduction of sergeant ranks in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with the column "NATO Code" in accordance with 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 Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It is 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) is 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.^[11]

Ranks of historic Ukraines[]

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1918–1921[]

Officer ranks

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
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

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[]

Officer ranks

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Ukrainian Insurgent Army[12] (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

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ukrainian Insurgent Army[12] (1942–1949)
											Бунчужний Bunchuzhnyi						Чотовий Chotovyi						Ройовий Royovyi				Вістун Vistun		Старший козак Starshyi kozak						Козак Kozak

See also[]

• Military ranks of the Soviet Union
• Ukrainian Armed Forces branch insignia

References[]

External links[]

• ВІЙСЬКОВІ ЗВАННЯ ТА ВІЙСЬКОВІ РАНГИ ЗБРОЙНИХ ФОРМУВАНЬ УКРАЇНИ (Institute of History of Ukraine)
• Ukrainian Armed Forces 2007 White Book p.53
• "Ukraine 1917-1920 (People´s Republic)". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
• "Ukraine 1943-1950". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
• "Ukraine". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 20 July 2021.