Ukrainian Armed Forces
Background
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are the military forces responsible for the defence of Ukraine and its national interests. Their core mandate is to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security, and they therefore serve as the main instrument of state defense. The organization matters because it is central to Ukraine’s national security and to its ability to conduct military operations, deter threats, and participate in international defense cooperation.
The Armed Forces are composed of several branches and specialized components, including the Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Air Assault Forces, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, and Territorial Defense Forces. Ukraine’s navy also includes Naval Aviation, and the National Guard serves as a paramilitary reserve component of the Armed Forces. With a reported total strength of 4,900,000, they rank among the world’s largest armed forces, and they operate across a broad command structure that covers conventional, naval, airborne, special operations, territorial, and unmanned capabilities.
The Armed Forces have long taken part in multinational military exercises in Ukraine, including activities linked to NATO’s Partnership for Peace cooperation program. Since the start of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, they have been described as the most battle-hardened armed force in Europe, reflecting their sustained combat experience. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, they had the world’s eighth largest defence budget in 2025, and they are in the process of replacing Soviet-era equipment with NATO-standard military equipment while operating one of the largest and most diverse drone fleets in the world.
Timeline
The Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out a missile strike on Bryansk.
Russia Will Not Request a UN Security Council Meeting Over the Ukrainian Armed Forces Strike on BryanskThe strike killed seven civilians.
Russia Will Not Request a UN Security Council Meeting Over the Ukrainian Armed Forces Strike on Bryansk
Documents
Russia Will Not Request a UN Security Council Meeting Over the Ukrainian Armed Forces Strike on Bryansk
Russia's UN envoy Nebenzya said Moscow will not request a UN Security Council meeting over Ukraine's missile strike on Bryansk, which killed seven civilians.