- Service ensign · official
- State affiliation · Ukraine
- Vigil category device · not official insignia
Identity provenance
Service ensign: Flag of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The service flag of the Air Assault Forces, in use since 2017 — a maroon field charged with the DShV emblem. The design itself is excluded from copyright by Article 8 of Ukraine’s Law on Copyright and Related Rights, which names symbols and signs of government authorities, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. The file shipped is the Wikimedia Commons SVG "Flag of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.svg", released under PD-UAexMilitary / PD-UA-exempt on that basis, so no attribution or share-alike obligation attaches. Optimised for web display; geometry unaltered.
State affiliation: Ukraine.
The smaller square mark is a Vigil category device, drawn from this record’s own domain, echelon and role — not an official insignia.
In brief
Elite rapid-reaction light infantry, used as a mobile "fire brigade".
- Scope
- Structure, role, lineage and links. 8 subordinate records published.
- Subordination
- Subordination confirmed
- Sources
- 5 on the record
- Record state
- Full
Broad area of activity
Committed across the front since 2022, most prominently in the Kharkiv counteroffensive and in defensive battles at critical points.
Notable history
Ukraine's separate air-assault arm (DShV), expanded significantly after 2014. Its brigades have served as the army's mobile reserve — moved from crisis to crisis rather than held for airborne operations, which the air-defence environment has made impractical for both sides. Spearheaded elements of the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive.
Strengths
Higher selection and training standards than line infantry; strong unit identity; experience as the force of last resort at critical moments.
Limitations
Persistent use as regular infantry erodes its specialised role; light equipment against a heavily fortified, artillery-dense front.
Subordinate formations
25th Airborne BrigadeBrigade46th Airmobile BrigadeBrigade77th Airmobile BrigadeBrigade79th Air Assault BrigadeBrigade80th Air Assault BrigadeBrigade81st Airmobile BrigadeBrigade82nd Air Assault BrigadeBrigade95th Air Assault BrigadeBrigadeRows are layout only — position and order carry no hierarchy, importance, sequence or strength. Every record shown is an immediate subordinate of the selected organisation.
Related locations
Kharkiv: Spearheaded elements of the September 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, the arm's most prominent offensive employment of the war.
Quick actions
System access
Where this record connects into the rest of Vigil. Each row is here because this organisation actually reaches it.
Assessed as of2026-06Last reviewed2026-06
See this force in the structure Interactive: select this record and follow what connects to it.