Military ranks of Ukraine

The military ranks of Ukraine were created in March 1992 after adopting the law of Ukraine "About Universal Military Duty and Military Service". The rank structure corresponds the generic military rank structure of the Soviet Union. Ukrainian armed forces have two styles of ranks - army, which is used by ground forces as well as aerial forces, and naval - the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukraine, like the Russian Federation, eliminated the descriptor "of aviation" following the air force ranks and in 2016 the descriptor "guards" following the rank of a serviceman of a guards unit, formation or ship was officially abolished. 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.

Ukraine also added ranks the general of Army of Ukraine as well as admiral of Ukrainian Navy.

Rank insignia currently in force

Ground Forces, Special Operations and Air Assault Forces

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Ukrainian Ground 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

Other Ranks and NCOs

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ukrainian Ground 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

Air Force

Officers

Rank group	General/Flag/Air officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Ukrainian Air Force
			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

Other Ranks and NCOs

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Ukrainian Air Force
	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

Navy

Fleet forces

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia
Ukrainian Navy
			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

Naval ratings

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Shoulder insignia
Ukrainian Navy
	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

Marine Corps, Naval Aviation and Shore Establishment

Officers

Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			Colonel General (Генерал-полковник)		Lieutenant General (Генерал-лейтенант)		Major General (Генерал-майор)		Brigadier (Бригадний генерал)		Colonel (Полковник)		Lieutenant Colonel (Підполковник)		Major (Майор)		Captain (Капітан)		First Lieutenant (Старший лейтенант)		Lieutenant (Лейтенант)		Second Lieutenant (Хорунжий)

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Shoulder insignia
Sleeve insignia
	Master Gunnery Sergeant Chief master sergeant Головний майстер-сержант			Master Sergeant Майстер-сержант			Sergeant First Class Головний штаб-сержант		Second Sergeant Штаб-сержант		Gunnery Sergeant Technical Sergeant Головний сержант						Staff Sergeant Старший сержант						Sergeant Сержант				Corporal Капрал		Lance Corporal Старший матрос						Private Airman Матрос

Old ranks

General and flag officer ranks

	Army rank (Ground Forces, Air Force)		Navy rank
	Shoulder insignia	Rank name	Shoulder insignia	Rank name	Sleeve insignia
OF-10		General of Army of Ukraine Генерал армії України (Heneral armii Ukrainy)	No equivalent
OF-9		Colonel general Генерал-полковник (Heneral-polkovnyk)		Admiral Адмірал (Admiral)
OF-8		General-lieutenant Генерал-лейтенант (Heneral-leitenant)		Vice-admiral Віце-адмірал (Vitse-admiral)
OF-7		General-major Генерал-майор (Heneral-maior)		Counter-admiral Контр-адмірал (Kontr-admiral)

Officer ranks

	Army rank (Ground Forces, Air Force)		Navy rank
	Shoulder insignia	Rank name	Shoulder insignia	Rank name	Sleeve insignia
	Senior officers (Старший офіцерський склад)
OF-5		Colonel Полковник (Polkovnyk)		Captain, 1st rank Капітан 1-го рангу (Kapitan 1-ho ranhu)
OF-4		Lieutenant colonel (lieutenant colonel) Підполковник lieutenant colonel		Captain, 2nd rank Капітан 2-го рангу (Kapitan 2-ho ranhu)
OF-3		Major Майор (Maior)		Captain, 3rd rank Капітан 3-го рангу (Kapitan 3-ho ranhu)
	Junior officers (Молодший офіцерський склад)
OF-2		Captain Капітан (Kapitan)		Captain-lieutenant Капітан-лейтенант (Kapitan-leitenant)
OF-1		First lieutenant Старший лейтенант (Starshyi leitenant)		First lieutenant Старший лейтенант (Starshyi leitenant)
		Lieutenant Лейтенант (Leitenant)		Lieutenant Лейтенант (Leitenant)
		Second Lieutenant Молодший лейтенант (Molodshyi leitenant)		Lieutenant Молодший лейтенант (Molodshyi leitenant)

Enlisted ranks

	Army rank (Ground Forces, Air Force)		Navy rank
	Shoulder insignia	Rank name	Shoulder insignia	Rank name
	Sergeants and starshinas (Сержантсько-старшинський склад)
OR-9		Senior praporshchik (sergeant major) Старший прапорщик (Starshyi praporshchyk)		Senior midshipman Старший мічман (Starshyi michman)
		Praporshchik (master sergeant) Прапорщик (Praporshchyk)		midshipman Мічман (Michman)
OR-8		Starshina (first sergeant) Старшина (Starshyna)		Chief ship starshina Головний корабельний старшина (Holovnyy korabelnyi starshyna)
OR-7		Senior sergeant (sergeant first class) Старший сержант (Starshyi serzhant)		Chief starshina Головний старшина (Holovnyi starshyna)
OR-6		Sergeant (staff sergeant) Сержант (Serzhant)		Starshina, 1st class Старшина 1-ої статті (Starshyna 1-oi statti)
OR-4		Junior sergeant (sergeant) Молодший сержант (Molodshyi serzhant)		Starshina, 2nd class Старшина 2ої статті (Starshyna 2-oi statti)
	Privates (Рядовий склад)
OR-2		Senior soldier Старший солдат (Starshyi soldat)		Senior matrose Старший матрос (Starshyi matros)
OR-1		Soldier Солдат (Soldat)		Matros] Матрос (Matros)

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	Army rank, 1920	Naval rank, 1918		Army rank, 1944	Naval rank, 1944
General officers Генеральна старшина general starshina	-	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
		Colonel general Генерал-полковник (Heneral-polkovnyk)	Admiral Адмірал (admiral)	Centurion general Генерал-сотник (Heneral-sotnyk)	Colonel general Генерал-полковник (Heneral-polkovnyk)	Admiral Адмірал (admiral)	Army commander Командарм (Komandarm)	General and admiral
		Lieutenant general Генерал-поручник (Heneral-poruchnyk)	Vice-admiral Віце-адмірал (Vitse-admiral)	Lieutenant general Генерал-поручник (Heneral-poruchyk)	General major Генерал-майор (Heneral-mayor)	Vice-admiral Віце-адмірал (Vitse-admiral)	Corps commander Комкор (Komkor)	Lieutenant general and vice admiral
		Ensign general Генерал-хорунжий (Heneral-Khorunzhiy)	Counter-admiral Контр-адмірал (Kontr-admiral)	Platoon general Генерал-чотар (Heneral-chotar)		Counter-admiral Контр-адмірал (Kontr-admiral)	Division commander Комдив (Komdiv)	Major general and rear admiral (upper half)
					Ensign general Генерал-хорунжий (Heneral-Khorunzhiy)		Brigade commander Комбриг (Kombrig)	Brigadier general and rear admiral (lower half)
Mace officers Булавна старшина Bulawa Starshina		Colonel Полковник (Polkovnyk)	Captain, 1st rank Капітан 1-го рангу (Kapitan 1-ho ranhu)	Colonel Полковник (Polkovnyk)	Colonel Полковник (Polkovnyk)	Captain-lieutenant Капітан-лейтенант (Kapitan-leytenant)	Regiment commander or Polkovnik Комполка or Полковник (Kompolka or Polkovnik)	Colonel and Captain
		Sub-colonel Підполковник (Pidpolkovnyk)	Captain, 2nd rank Капітан 2-го рангу (Kapitan 2-ho ranhu)	Sub-colonel Підполковник (Pidpolkovnyk)	Sub-colonel Підполковник (Pidpolkovnyk)		Battalion commander Комбат (Kombat)	Lieutenant colonel and commander
				Ataman Отаман (Otaman)	Major Майор (Mayor)		Battalion commander assistant Помкомбат (Pomkombat)	Major and Lieutenant commander
Junior officers Молодша старшина Junior Starshina		Centurion Сотник (Sotnyk)	Senior lieutenant Старший лейтенант (Starshiy leytenant)	Centurion Сотник (Sotnyk)	Centurion Сотник (Sotnyk)	Senior lieutenant Старший лейтенант (Starshiy leytenant)	Company commander Комроты (Komroty)	Captain and lieutenant
		Lieutenant Поручник (Poruchnyk)		Lieutenant Поручник (Poruchnyk)	Lieutenant Поручник (Poruchnyk)	Lieutenant Лейтенант (Leytenant)	Company commander assistant Помкомроты (Pomkomroty)	First lieutenant and lieutenant (junior grade)
		Ensign Хорунжий (Khorunzhiy)	Lieutenant Лейтенант (Leytenant)	Chotar Чотар (Chotar)	Ensign Хорунжий (Khorunzhiy)	Junior lieutenant Молодший лейтенант (Molodshiy leytenant)	Platoon commander Комвзвода (Komvzvoda)	Second lieutenant and ensign
				Ensign Хорунжий (Khorunzhiy)
Sub-officers Підстаршина sub-starshina		Sub-ensign Підхорунжий (Pidkhorunzhiy)	Midshipman Мічман (Michman)	Sub-ensign Підхорунжий (Pidkhorunzhiy)	Sub-ensign Підхорунжий (Pidkhorunzhiy)	Sub-ensign Підхорунжий (Pidkhorunzhiy)	Starshina Старшина (Starshina)	Sergeant major
		Brigadier Бунчужний (Bunchuzhnyi)		Mace senior dean Булавний старший десятник (Bulavniy starshiy desiatnyk)	Bunchuzhniy Бунчужний (Bunchuzhniy)			First sergeant
		Platoon leader Чотовий (Chotovyi)		Senior dean Старший десятник (Starshiy desiatnyk)	Platoon leader Чотовий (Chotovyi)	Senior dean Старший десятник (Starshiy desiatnyk)	Assistant of platoon commander Помкомвзвода (Pomkomvzvoda)	Sergeant first class
		Squad leader Ройовий (Royovyi)		Dean Десятник (Desiatnyk)	Squad leader Ройовий (Royovyi)	Dean Десятник (Desiatnyk)	Squad commander Комот (Komot)	Sergeant
					Herald Вістун (Vistun)
Cossacks, sailors, privates Козаки/Моряки/Рядовики		Team leader Гуртковий (Hurtkovyi)	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
		Cossack Козак (Kozak)		Rifleman or strelet Стрілець (Strilets)	Cossack Козак (Kozak)	Matrose Матрос (Matros)		Private

• 
  Ukrainian Naval uniforms (1918)
• 
  Ukrainian Naval insignia (1918)
• 
  Insignia of the Hutsulian Marine Regiment (1920)

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 experimental 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.

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)

This innovation was 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. 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.

These experimental insignia never came into wide use and were abandoned shortly afterwards. Up until 2015 the Armed Forces kept using the Soviet-style insignia and rank system, albelt in the case of the Ground Forces and the Air Force the old insignia stayed with the officer corps while 2009 proposal for NCO insignia gained wider acceptance 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 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. In airmobile units there are also posts of chief sergeant of the division and chief sergeant of the brigade.

• 
  Sleeve patch
• 
  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

2015 reforms

Late July 2015 the 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". Still, the system initially proposed just replicated the Soviet hierarchy of military ranks and had no relation to the NATO system whatsoever - the only innovation being of a purely decorative character, namely, the appearance and composition of the shoulder strap insignia.

The reform of 2016 which finally emerged will, at long last, bring the rank insignia of the Ukrainian armed forces in line with the rank systems of its NATO partners and the rest of the world, while also, if successful, honor the traditions of Cossacks in Ukraine and the Ukrainian independence armies, the Ukrainian People's Army of the Russian Civil War and the Ukrainian War of Independence and the Second World War-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army forward.

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 and NCOs plus 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 August 24, 2016 as Ukraine marked the silver jubilee of nationhood, while matching those of its future NATO partner countries should it officially join the organization it pays tribute to the many Ukrainians who made countless sacrifices for the country through the centuries. In a break with the Soviet era past, the stars used for officers' ranking were replaced with British military style diamonds - inspired by those used by the Ground Forces during the Ukrainian State of 1918.

By 2017, the insignia of the Navy will begin to be utilized, the final design being separate shoulder and sleeve rank insignia similar to the Bulgarian Navy.

See also

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

References

• ВІЙСЬКОВІ ЗВАННЯ ТА ВІЙСЬКОВІ РАНГИ ЗБРОЙНИХ ФОРМУВАНЬ УКРАЇНИ
• Ukrainian Armed Forces 2007 White Book p.53
• www.tridentmilitary.com
• Military insignia of Ukraine from http://www.uniforminsignia.net