The tense situation in the Crimea, which appears to include an occupation by Russian military forces, has tested the Ukraine and its military. While much smaller in size than Russia’s, with around 129,000 troops compared to 845,000, Ukraine’s military has been growing in power and professionalism. Despite a David versus Goliath scenario, vastly outnumbered in ships, aircraft, tanks, and other equipment as well as men, there are some good points. So far the military has largely remained loyal; other than those troops and assets now surrounded on the Crimean peninsula, Ukraine’s military is more concentrated; and Ukraine’s military leaders are more likely to be patient, as opposed to those of Georgia, who seem to have fired the first shots before the Russians invaded that country in 2008. Also, Ukraine, although not a part of NATO or the European Union, has received training with the militaries of those countries and with the United States. This photo gallery is not intended as a complete picture of the Ukrainian military, but rather a representation of those forces and of some of their capabilities.
The Ukraine’s Military | Photos
Ukrainian marines simulate an attack during exercise Sea Breeze 2010, Shiroky Lan, Ukraine, July 17, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristopher Regan
Ukrainian BTR-80 amphibious assault vehicles arrive ashore during an amphibious beach landing demonstration as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011, Chabanka, Ukraine, June 15, 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Oleksiak
A Ukrainian amphibious assault team prepares their BTR-80 amphibious assault vehicles prior to a demonstration as part of Exercise Sea Breeze 2013, Odessa, Ukraine, July 11, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Howard
Ukrainian BTR-80 amphibious assault vehicles head toward the Ukrainian naval vessel Konstantin Olshansky (U 402) during Sea Breeze 2013, Odessa, Ukraine, July 18, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Howard
Ukrainian navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy (U 130) participates in a mine countermeasure exercise during Sea Breeze 2012, July 17, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Jamieson
A member of a Ukrainian visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team conducts anti-piracy training exercises at the Ukrainian Western Naval Base as part of Sea Breeze 2013, July 9, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Howard
The Ukrainian navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy (U 130), Oct. 29, 2013. The Hetman Sahaydachniy serves as the flagship of the Ukrainian navy and was on its way back to its homeport after serving as part of NATO's Operation Ocean Shield. Mixed news reports have the Hetman Sahaydachniy as either having defected to the Russian-backed government or as still loyal to the Ukrainian government in Kiev. NATO photo
Members of the Ukrainian naval special forces demonstrate visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations for members of Royal Danish and U.S. Navy dive teams and local and international press as part of the first day of training in exercise Sea Breeze 2010, Odessa, Ukraine, June 13, 2010. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense photo
A Ukrainian Ka-27 Helix helicopter on the deck of the Royal Norwegian Navy Frigate Fridtjof Nansen (F310), Oct. 29, 2013. NATO photo
Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers fly with Alabama Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons over Ukraine during Safe Skies 2011, July 22, 2011. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn
Ukrainian paratroopers assigned to the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade jump from an An-26 aircraft over Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 9, 2013. U.S. Department of Defense photo
A Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker takes off from the Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine, during Safe Skies 2011, Aug. 1, 2011. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn
As part of a multinational airborne exercise, Canadian paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, parachute out of a Ukrainian Il-76 during Exercise Rapid Trident 2011, July 26, 2011. The Ukrainian air force operates two Il-76 strategic airlifters. Canadian Forces photo Cpl. Jax Kennedy,
Ukrainian marines and U.S. Navy hospital corpsmen participate in a medical evacuation training evolution during a joint land component demonstration as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011, Shirokilan, Ukraine, June 11, 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caitlin Conroy
A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter prepares to drop airborne troops over the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 9, 2013. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense photo by Lt. Col. Taras Glen
Ukrainian paratroopers wait for Mi-8 helicopters to land during Exercise Rapid Trident, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 9, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Cole
A Ukrainian rescue paratrooper is hoisted up to an Mi-8 helicopter during a medical evacuation demonstration during Exercise Rapid Trident, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 11, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Cole
Ukrainian soldiers stand in formation during the opening ceremony for Exercise Steadfast Jazz, Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, Nov. 3, 2013. NATO photo by Staff Sgt. Ian Houlding
A Ukrainian BTR-80 armored personnel carrier deploys during Exercise Steadfast Jazz, Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, Nov. 6, 2013. NATO photo by Staff Sgt. Ian Houlding
Ukrainian soldiers man a traffic control checkpoint during training as part of Rapid Trident 2013, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 10, 2013. U.S. Department of Defense photo
Ukrainian BTR-80 amphibious assault vehicles arrive ashore during an amphibious beach landing demonstration as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011, Chabanka, Ukraine, June 15, 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Oleksiak
A Ukrainian amphibious assault team prepares their BTR-80 amphibious assault vehicles prior to a demonstration as part of Exercise Sea Breeze 2013, Odessa, Ukraine, July 11, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Howard
Ukrainian BTR-80 amphibious assault vehicles head toward the Ukrainian naval vessel Konstantin Olshansky (U 402) during Sea Breeze 2013, Odessa, Ukraine, July 18, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Howard
Ukrainian navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy (U 130) participates in a mine countermeasure exercise during Sea Breeze 2012, July 17, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Jamieson
A member of a Ukrainian visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team conducts anti-piracy training exercises at the Ukrainian Western Naval Base as part of Sea Breeze 2013, July 9, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Howard
The Ukrainian navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy (U 130), Oct. 29, 2013. The Hetman Sahaydachniy serves as the flagship of the Ukrainian navy and was on its way back to its homeport after serving as part of NATO's Operation Ocean Shield. Mixed news reports have the Hetman Sahaydachniy as either having defected to the Russian-backed government or as still loyal to the Ukrainian government in Kiev. NATO photo
Members of the Ukrainian naval special forces demonstrate visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations for members of Royal Danish and U.S. Navy dive teams and local and international press as part of the first day of training in exercise Sea Breeze 2010, Odessa, Ukraine, June 13, 2010. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense photo
A Ukrainian Ka-27 Helix helicopter on the deck of the Royal Norwegian Navy Frigate Fridtjof Nansen (F310), Oct. 29, 2013. NATO photo
Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers fly with Alabama Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons over Ukraine during Safe Skies 2011, July 22, 2011. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn
Ukrainian paratroopers assigned to the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade jump from an An-26 aircraft over Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 9, 2013. U.S. Department of Defense photo
A Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker takes off from the Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine, during Safe Skies 2011, Aug. 1, 2011. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn
As part of a multinational airborne exercise, Canadian paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, parachute out of a Ukrainian Il-76 during Exercise Rapid Trident 2011, July 26, 2011. The Ukrainian air force operates two Il-76 strategic airlifters. Canadian Forces photo Cpl. Jax Kennedy,
Ukrainian marines and U.S. Navy hospital corpsmen participate in a medical evacuation training evolution during a joint land component demonstration as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011, Shirokilan, Ukraine, June 11, 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caitlin Conroy
A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter prepares to drop airborne troops over the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 9, 2013. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense photo by Lt. Col. Taras Glen
Ukrainian paratroopers wait for Mi-8 helicopters to land during Exercise Rapid Trident, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 9, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Cole
A Ukrainian rescue paratrooper is hoisted up to an Mi-8 helicopter during a medical evacuation demonstration during Exercise Rapid Trident, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 11, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Cole
Ukrainian soldiers stand in formation during the opening ceremony for Exercise Steadfast Jazz, Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, Nov. 3, 2013. NATO photo by Staff Sgt. Ian Houlding
A Ukrainian BTR-80 armored personnel carrier deploys during Exercise Steadfast Jazz, Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, Nov. 6, 2013. NATO photo by Staff Sgt. Ian Houlding
Ukrainian soldiers man a traffic control checkpoint during training as part of Rapid Trident 2013, Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 10, 2013. U.S. Department of Defense photo
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