Military ranks of Ukraine

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:

• Army ranks, which are used by the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Ukrainian Air Force, and Ukrainian Marine Corps
• Naval ranks, which are used by the Ukrainian Navy

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

Current military rank insignia

Introduction of NATO-style ranks

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

The following are the rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Ukrainian Ground Forces[4] v t e
			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] v t e
			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] v t e
			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
Special Operations Forces
			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
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

Student officer ranks

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

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

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ukrainian Ground Forces[4] v t e
	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] v t e
	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] v t e
	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
Special Operations Forces
	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

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

1991 system

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

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

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 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)

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.

• 
  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

2016 system

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

Officer ranks

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

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										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

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

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

References

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. "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. Sodol, Petro R. (1987). UPA: They Fought Hitler and Stalin. New York. p. 36. ASIN B0000EED8R.

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.