Assault Forces (Ukraine)

The Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Штурмові війська Збро́йних сил Украї́ни, Shturmovi viysʹka Zbróynykh syl Ukrayíny) is a branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dedicated to assault infantry. The branch was established in September 2025 as a specialized branch which reports directly to the Commander-in-Chief.^[1] The Assault Forces are separate from the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces in that Assault Forces are rapid-reaction units which specialize in offensive combat, while the Air Assault Forces specialize in both offense and defense.^[2] The 225th Separate Assault Regiment became the first unit to be moved from the Ground Forces to the Assault Forces. In addition, a drone unit was planned.^[3]

Reception

The establishment of the Assault Forces was criticized by Solomiia Bobrovska, who compared the proposed branch to a "private army" that would divert functions from the Air Assault Forces branch.