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Armed Forces of Ukraine
Emblem of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Main branches
Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Force Air Force
Emblem of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Ground Forces
Emblem of the Ukrainian Navy Navy
Other Corps
Ukr marines Naval Infantry
Ukr mechanized Mechanized Forces
Ukr airborne Airmobile Forces
Related Services
Ukrainian Ministry of Defence Ministry of Defence
General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff
Intelligence
Emblem of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Military Intelligence Service
History of the Ukrainian Military
History of Ukraine during WWII
History of Ukraine during WWI

The military ranks of Ukraine were created in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Ukrainian armed forces have two styles of ranks - Army, which is used by Ground forces and the Air Force, and Navy. Ukraine like the Russian Federation eliminated the descriptor "of Aviation" following the Air Force ranks. The rank of a serviceman of a Guards unit, formation or ship may be followed by the word “Guards.” 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]

Current Ranks[]

General ranks[]

Category Army rank
(Ground forces, Air Force)
Navy Rank
Shoulder Insignia Rank Name Shoulder Insignia Rank Name Sleeve Insignia
Superior Officers
Вищий офіцерський склад
UA-ARMY-GEN
General of Army of Ukraine
Генерал армії України
(Heneral armiyi Ukrayiny)
No equivalent
UA-COL-GEN
General-Polkovnik
Генерал-полковник
(Heneral-polkovnyk)
Ukraine Admiral shoulderboard
Admiral
Адмірал
(Admiral)
UA-LT-GEN
General-Lieutenant
Генерал-лейтенант
(Heneral-leytenant)
Ukraine Vice Admiral shoulderboard
Vice-Admiral
Віце-адмірал
(Vitse-admiral)
UA-MAJ-GEN
General-Major
Генерал-майор
(Heneral-mayor)
Ukraine Counter Admiral shoulderboard
Counter-Admiral
Контр-адмірал
(Kontr-admiral)

Officer ranks[]

Category Army rank
(Ground forces, Air Force)
Navy Rank
Shoulder Insignia Rank Name Shoulder Insignia Rank Name Sleeve Insignia
Senior Officers
Старший офіцерський склад
UA-COL-GSB
Polkovnik (Colonel)
Полковник
(Polkovnyk)
UA-CPT1-NAV
Captain, 1st rank
Капітан 1-го рангу
(Kapitan 1-ho ranhu)
UA-LTCOL-GSB
Pidpolkovnik (Lieutenant Colonel)
Підполковник
(Pidpolkovnyk)
UA-CPT2-NAV
Captain, 2nd rank
Капітан 2-го рангу
(Kapitan 2-ho ranhu)
UA-MAJ-GSB
Major
Майор
(Mayor)
UA-CPT3-NAV
Captain, 3rd rank
Капітан 3-го рангу
(Kapitan 3-ho ranhu)
Junior Officers
Молодший офіцерський склад
UA-CPT-GSB
Captain
Капітан
(Kapitan)
UA-CLT-NAV
Captain-Lieutenant
Капітан-лейтенант
(Kapitan-leytenant)
UA-SLT-GSB
Senior Lieutenant
Старший лейтенант
(Starshiy leytenant)
UA-SLT-NAV
Senior Lieutenant
Старший лейтенант
(Starshiy leytenant)
UA-LT-GSB
Lieutenant
Лейтенант
(Leytenant)
UA-LT-NAV
Lieutenant
Лейтенант
(Leytenant)
UA-JLT-GSB
Junior Lieutenant
Молодший лейтенант
(Molodshiy leytenant)
UA-JLT-NAV
Junior Lieutenant
Молодший лейтенант
(Molodshiy leytenant)

Warrant officer and enlisted ranks[]

Category Army rank
(Ground forces, Air Force)
Navy Rank
Shoulder Insignia Rank Name Shoulder Insignia Rank Name Sleeve Insignia
Sergeants and Starshinas
Сержантсько-старшинський склад
UA-CWO-GSB
Senior Praporshchik (Senior Warrant Officer)
Старший прапорщик
(Starshiy praporshchyk)
Senior Midshipman
Старший мічман
(Starshiy michman)
no sleeve insignia
UA-WOF-GSB
Praporshchik (Warrant Officer)
Прапорщик
(Praporshchyk)
Midshipman
Мічман
(Michman)
no sleeve insignia
UA-MSGT-GSB
Starshina (Master Sergeant)
Старшина
(Starshyna)
Chief Ship Starshina
Головний корабельний старшина
(Holovnyy korabel’nyy starshyna)
no sleeve insignia
UA-SSGT-GSB
Senior Sergeant
Старший сержант
(Starshiy Serzhant)
Chief Starshina
Головний старшина
(Holovnyy starshyna)
no sleeve insignia
UA-SGT-GSB
Sergeant
Сержант
(Serzhant)
Starshina, 1st class
Старшина 1-ої статті
(Starshyna 1-oyi statti)
no sleeve insignia
UA-JSGT-GSB
Junior Sergeant
Молодший сержант
(Molodshiy serzhant)
Starshina, 2nd class
Старшина 2ої статті
(Starshyna 2-oyi statti)
no sleeve insignia
Privates
Рядовий склад
UA-PFC-GSB
Senior Soldier
Старший солдат
(Starshiy soldat)
Senior Matrose
Старший матрос
(Starshiy matros)
no sleeve insignia
UA-PVT-GSB
Soldier
Солдат
(Soldat)
Matrose
Матрос
(Matros)
no sleeve insignia

History of Ukrainian military ranks[]

The first half of the twentieth century[]

Category Ranks of the Army of the UNR Rank of the UGA, 1918 Ranks of the UIA (УПА) Rank of the
Ukrainian Soviet Army, 1919
Equivalent rank
(USA)
Collar
Insignia[2]
Army Rank, 1920 Naval Rank, 1918 Army Rank, 1944 Naval Rank, 1944
General Starshina
or
Generals


Генеральна старшина
-
No equivalent
No equivalent
No equivalent
No equivalent
Admiral of the Fleet
Адмірал флоту
(Admiral flotu)
Commander of the Front
Комфронта
(Komfronta)
General of the Army
and
Fleet Admiral
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 02.gif
General-Polkovnik
Генерал-полковник
(Heneral-polkovnyk)
Admiral
Адмірал
(Admiral)
General-Sotnik
Генерал-сотник
(Heneral-sotnyk)
General-Polkovnik
Генерал-полковник
(Heneral-polkovnyk)
Admiral
Адмірал
(Admiral)
Commandarm
Командарм
(Komandarm)
General
and
Admiral
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 03.gif
General-Poruchik
Генерал-поручник
(Heneral-poruchyk)
Vice-Admiral
Віце-адмірал
(Vitse-admiral)
General-Poruchik
Генерал-поручник
(Heneral-poruchyk)
General-Major
Генерал-майор
(Heneral-mayor)
Vice-Admiral
Віце-адмірал
(Vitse-admiral)
Comcor
Комкор
(Komkor)
Lieutenant General
and
Vice Admiral
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 01.gif
General-Chorąży
Генерал-хорунжий
(Heneral-Khorunzhiy)
Counter-Admiral
Контр-адмірал
(Kontr-admiral)
General-Chotar
Генерал-чотар
(Heneral-chotar)
Counter-Admiral
Контр-адмірал
(Kontr-admiral)
Comdiv
Комдив
(Komdiv)
Major General
and
Rear Admiral (upper half)
General-Chorąży
Генерал-хорунжий
(Heneral-Khorunzhiy)
Combrig
Комбриг
(Kombrig)
Brigadier General
and
Rear Admiral (lower half)
Bulawa Starshina
or
Mace Officers


Булавна старшина
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 04.gif
Polkovnik
Полковник
(Polkovnyk)
Captain, 1st rank
Капітан 1-го рангу
(Kapitan 1-ho ranhu)
Polkovnik
Полковник
(Polkovnyk)
Polkovnik
Полковник
(Polkovnyk)
Captain-Lieutenant
Капітан-лейтенант
(Kapitan-leytenant)
Regiment Commander
or
Polkovnik
Комполка or Полковник
(Kompolka or Polkovnik)
Colonel
and
Captain
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 05.gif
Sub-Polkovnik
Підполковник
(Pidpolkovnyk)
Captain, 2nd rank
Капітан 2-го рангу
(Kapitan 2-ho ranhu)
Sub-Polkovnik
Підполковник
(Pidpolkovnyk)
Sub-Polkovnik
Підполковник
(Pidpolkovnyk)
Combat
Комбат
(Kombat)
Lieutenant Colonel
and
Commander
Ataman
Отаман
(Otaman)
Major
Майор
(Mayor)
Assistant of Combat
Помкомбат
(Pomkombat)
Major
and
Lieutenant Commander
Junior Starshina
or
Junior Officers


Молодша старшина
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 06.gif
Sotnik
Сотник
(Sotnyk)
Senior Lieutenant
Старший лейтенант
(Starshiy leytenant)
Sotnik
Сотник
(Sotnyk)
Sotnik
Сотник
(Sotnyk)
Senior Lieutenant
Старший лейтенант
(Starshiy leytenant)
Company Commander
Комроты
(Komroty)
Captain
and
Lieutenant
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 07.gif
Poruchik
Поручник
(Poruchyk)
Poruchik
Поручник
(Poruchyk)
Poruchik
Поручник
(Poruchyk)
Lieutenant
Лейтенант
(Leytenant)
Assistant of Company Commander
Помкомроты
(Pomkomroty)
First Lieutenant
and
Lieutenant (junior grade)
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 08.gif
Chorąży
Хорунжий
(Khorunzhiy)
Lieutenant
Лейтенант
(Leytenant)
Chotar
Чотар
(Chotar)
Chorąży
Хорунжий
(Khorunzhiy)
Junior Lieutenant
Молодший лейтенант
(Molodshiy leytenant)
Platoon Commander
Комвзвода
(Komvzvoda)
Second Lieutenant
and
Ensign
Chorąży
Хорунжий
(Khorunzhiy)
Sub-starshina
or
Sub-Officers


Підстаршина
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 09.gif
Sub-Chorąży
Підхорунжий
(Pidkhorunzhiy)
Midshipman
Мічман
(Michman)
Sub-Chorąży
Підхорунжий
(Pidkhorunzhiy)
Sub-Chorąży
Підхорунжий
(Pidkhorunzhiy)
Sub-Chorąży
Підхорунжий
(Pidkhorunzhiy)
Starshina
Старшина
(Starshina)
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 10.gif
Bunchuzhniy
Бунчужний
(Bunchuzhniy)
Mace Senior Dean
Булавний старший десятник
(Bulavniy starshiy desiatnyk)
Bunchuzhniy
Бунчужний
(Bunchuzhniy)
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 11.gif
Chotoviy
Чотовий
(Chotoviy)
Senior Dean
Старший десятник
(Starshiy desiatnyk)
Chotoviy
Чотовий
(Chotoviy)
Senior Dean
Старший десятник
(Starshiy desiatnyk)
Assistant of Platoon Commander
Помкомвзвода
(Pomkomvzvoda)
File:Ukraine-army-collar-1917-1920 12.gif
Royoviy
Ройовий
(Royoviy)
Dean
Десятник
(Desiatnyk)
Royoviy
Ройовий
(Royoviy)
Dean
Десятник
(Desiatnyk)
Squad Commander
Комот
(Komot)
Herald
Вістун
(Vistun)
Cossacks/Sailors/Privates
Козаки/Моряки/Рядовики
02 УНР 30-03-1920 Гурткoвий
Gurtoviy
Гуртковий
(Hurtkoviy)
Ship Garde-marine
Корабельний ґардемарин
(Korabelniy gardemaryn)
Senior Rifleman
or
Senior Strelet
Старший стрілець
(Starshiy strilets)
Senior Cossack
Старший козак
(Starshiy kozak)
Matrose-Herald
Матрос-вістун
(Matros-vistun)
Redarmyman
Красноармеец
(Krasnoarmeyets)
Private First Class
01 УНР 30-03-1920 Козак
Cossack
Козак
(Kozak)
Rifleman or Strelet
Стрілець
(Strilets)
Cossack
Козак
(Kozak)
Matrose
Матрос
(Matros)
Private

Modern Ukraine[]

The independent Ukraine inherited the ranks of the Soviet Union. But there were some changes. The rank of "Єфрейтор" (Efreitor) 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.

New insignia of 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.[3]

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)
New Military ranks of Ukraine
New Naval ranks of Ukraine

This innovation is 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.[4] 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.

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 know 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 will be introduced in three or four years.[5] In Airmobile units there is also posts of Chief Sergeant of the Division and Chief Sergeant of the Brigade.

See also[]

References[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Military ranks of Ukraine and the edit history here.
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