Armed Forces of Ukraine officially form Assault Troops: What tasks they will carry out
Illustrative photo: The Armed Forces of Ukraine have officially formed the Assault Troops (Getty Images)
In Ukraine, the nature of combat operations has changed significantly over the past four years. For this reason, it was decided to create Assault Troops as a separate branch within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, states Major Andrii Kovalov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
According to Kovalov, the creation of this branch of the military is a logical step in the development of the Armed Forces under the conditions of modern warfare, responding to changes in the nature of combat.
"This move has definitely strengthened the capabilities of our forces, increased the activity and resilience of our defense, and enhanced the effectiveness of counteroffensive operations. However, there are significant differences between the Air Assault Forces and the Assault Troops," Kovalov explained.
Tasks of the Assault Troops
The Assault Troops (ShV) are rapid-response forces. They operate along different sections of the front where a sudden threat or problem has arisen — such as a breach in the defense, loss of positions, or a settlement.
The main task of the Assault Troops is to quickly arrive, deploy, engage in combat, destroy the enemy, and restore lost positions. It is important to note that they do not have their own defensive sectors or lines and are not intended to conduct prolonged defense. Their role is to carry out offensive, assault, and raid operations.
Assault Troops are characterized by high mobility and autonomy and are usually deployed as assault companies or battalions, operating independently from their parent units within the sectors of other brigades that have suffered position losses.
During an offensive, they can be used as part of an assault battalion or assault regiment to breach defenses or capture a strategically important area or settlement.
Assault Troops can also be deployed to break through defenses and enable the main forces to enter the battle.
Tasks of the Air Assault Forces
The Air Assault Forces (DShV) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are deployed as part of brigades or larger formations. They are designed for both offensive and defensive operations. During an offensive, they are engaged on the most critical sections of the front to breach enemy defenses and advance deep into enemy territory over an extended period. In defense, they are used to operate in areas where the enemy’s main forces are applied or to defend strategically important areas or settlements.
Additionally, the DShV is deployed as part of airborne operations, conducting deep raids and air assault missions.
Using the Air Assault Forces within defense operations allows the military to extend the zone of combat from the frontline to the enemy’s operational depth, as well as to transfer military actions onto enemy territory.
Main distinction of the Assault Troops
The primary distinction of the Assault Troops from other forces is their rapid response and ability to act first, regardless of the situation.
"Individual assault regiments and battalions within the Armed Forces have repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness during active operations in the Kursk, Sumy, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions, as well as in many other key sections of the front," Kovalov said.
Currently, the Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been established, and its head is Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Valentyn Manko.
It is worth recalling that in February 2024, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the Cabinet of Ministers and the General Staff to work on the creation of a separate branch within the Armed Forces for Unmanned Systems.
In June 2025, President Zelenskyy appointed "Madyar" as the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, replacing Vadym Sukharevskyi in this position.
