MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE WHITE BOOK 2015 THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE WHITE BOOK 2015 THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE KYIV • 2016 The White Book 2015: The Armed Forces of Ukraine publication was prepared by the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Working Group Head: Ivan RUSNAK Working Group composition: SergiiVDOVENKO, Oksana GAVRYLYUK, IhorDOLHOV, OleksandrDUBLYAN, Viktor MUZHENKO, IhorPAVLOVSKYI, Viktor PALII, PavloSHCHIPANSKYI Working Group Secretary: Viktor KRAVCHUK The White book is published according to the Law of Ukraine on the “Democratic Civilian Control over Military Organization and Law Enforcement Agencies of the State” with the aim to regularly inform the public on the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as the defense policy of the State and its challenges and solutions. The eleventh publication, White Book 2015: the Armed Forces of Ukraine is dedicated to the issues of the optimization and restructuring of the Armed Forces. The publication highlights the current state of the Armed Forces and the main directions for further military development. The publication could be useful for civilian and military experts in the field of military development, defense and security policy, as well as journalists, instructors and students of specialized educational institutions and to all interested in the state and development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. © Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, 2016 © Layout &Design: PE MoskalenkoO.M., 2016 OPENING STATEMENT MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine publishes the eleventh annual edition of the «White Book – 2015. The Armed Forces of Ukraine» for the purposes of implementing objectives of democratic civilian control over the Armed Forces of Ukraine as an important component of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as recognizing the necessity of full and reliable public awareness on the Armed Forces activities. The year of 2015 was not easy for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The military came into it in combat against the illegal armed groups. Alongside with the warfare, the Ukrainian Army was building up its defensive capabilities and carried out the necessary reforms. Now we can state with confidence that the missions of the President of Ukraine – the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – have been accomplished: the armed forces have significantly increased the level of combat readiness over the year. The National Security Strategy of Ukraine, a new edition of the Military Doctrine of Ukraine and the Concept for the Development of the Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine have been approved according to the results of the comprehensive review of the security and defense sector. For the first time in history, Ukraine has determined the course towards European integration and intentions to join NATO. The Russian Federation was determined as the main threat and military adversary. A new version of the Strategic Defense Bulletin of Ukraine has been elaborated together with foreign experts, its public discussion has been held. The State Target Defense Program on the Materiel Development for the period until 2020has been drafted. The endorsement of these documents is the issue of thestate decisions approval procedure. The military-administrative division of the state has been approved. The Armed Forces command and control system was improved; the Joint Operational Headquarters was established. The first steps were taken towards organization and training of the High Mobility Assault Forces. The establishment of the Special Operation Forces as a separate branch of arms has been logically completed and the Special Operation Forces Command has been established. The forces are planned to acquire combat capabilities in 2016. WHITE BOOK n 2015 3 Forces’ training was improved: the exercises involved instructors from the armed forces of NATO and the European Union member countries. In total, over 500 exercises were held in Ukraine and abroad. The most significant exercise was a command post exercise «Decisive Response-2015» involving military authorities and troops. 15 combat brigades have been established within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, district and city recruiting stations system has been restored since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This made it possible to conduct partial mobilization activities. About 36,000 new, refurbished and restored samples of materiel have been supplied to the troops. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine implements pilot projects in the sphere of logistics and provision of housing. In 2015 the Ministry of Defense was the first ministry which switched to procurement that made it possible to accelerate the bidding procedure and save public funds. Consequently, food standards for servicemen were brought up to the European level, and the clothing allowance system was brought up to NATO standards. Over 1,300 apartments were received by servicemen and their families, as well as service housing was provided for over 1,400 contracted servicemen. The Armed Forces of Ukraine ensured the fulfillment of the obligations of Ukraine under international treaties. In its turn, the international dialogue of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was aimed at the achievement by the Armed Forces of the criteria for NATO membership, increasing the capacity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and enhancing security and stability in the world. We have received an effective assistance from the leading NATO and the EU armies in countering the military aggression of the Russian Federation as well as consultative and advisory assistance while reforming the Ministry of Defense and significant humanitarian and logistics support amounted to USD 104 million in 2015. Ukraine has resumed its participation in the Partnership for Peace Planning and ReviewProcess (PARP), which was discontinued in 2014 due to the need to concentrate forces and assets for the combat against illegal armed groups. The implementation of social guarantees to servicemen and their families was ensured with common efforts of all branches of power, including those conscripted under mobilization. Extra incentive compensation was set for participation in anti- terrorist operations, for the successful performance of combat missions within units, and for the destruction of adversary’s military equipment. The servicemen allowance has been significantly increased since the beginning of 2016. The medical support has been significantly improved.The main activities were aimed at improving soldiers’ personal safety. The medical, psychological and social rehabilitation course for the anti-terrorist operation participants has been introduced. The military service in Ukraine becomes prestigious, which positively affects the confidence of the Ukrainians in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Army is supported by the political parties, public organizations and the media. The state authority’s credibility has increased among servicemen as well. There is still a lot of responsible work to do. We clearly know what should be done and do our best. We will certainly do it. We will win. Minister of Defense of Ukraine General of the Army of Ukraine Stepan POLTORAK 4 WHITE BOOK n 2015 CHAPTER 1 RESULTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE REFORM IN 2015 AND PARTICIPATION IN THE ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATION IMPROVEMENT OF FRAMEWORKS OF THE STATE POLICY IN THE DEFENCE DOMAIN RESULTS OF THE ARMED FORCES REFORM IN 2015 RESULTS OF THE ARMED FORCES USE TO TERMINATE THE ACTIVITY OF ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS FUNDING OF THE ARMED FORCES’ NEEDS INTERNAL CONTROL AND AUDIT PREVENTION AND COUNTERACTION OF CORRUPTION CHAPTER 1 RESULTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE REFORM IN 2015 AND PARTICIPATION IN THE ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATION estoration of combat effectiveness of the Armed Forces, maintenance of the desired level of combat Rand mobilization readiness as well as preparation for the performance of assigned tasks were the high-priority objectives of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff in 2015 since the events of the last two years around Ukraine and the conduct of anti-terrorist operation had revealed gaps in the national security system of our state. IMPROVEMENT OF The experience gained by the state in countering external aggression of the Russian FRAMEWORKS OF Federation required the development of a fundamentally new national security system, THE STATE POLICY especially immediate arrangement and solution of issues related to the increase of IN THE DEFENCE the defense capacity of the state, reform of the Armed Forces and other military DOMAIN formations as well as the development of the military-industrial complex. In this regard, the President of Ukraine initiated the development of new conceptual documents in the sphere of national security and defense. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine organized and conducted a comprehensive review of the security and defense sector of Ukraine1 according to the Action Plan and policy advices. Note 1.1. The National Security Strategy of Ukraine goals: The National Security Strategy of Ukraine2 was • minimize threats to national sovereignty and create conditions endorsed in May 2015according to its results. It is for the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine within intended to implement priorities of the national secu- internationally recognized state border of Ukraine, guarantee rity policy until 2020 as well as the