MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE WHITE BOOK 2017 THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE KYIV • 2018 The edition “White book-2017. Armed Forces of Ukraine” is prepared and edited by a group of representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The head of the working group: Ivan RUSNAK The working group: Oleksiy CHERNOBAY, Sergyi DUDKO, Iryna MAKARCHENKO, Oleh MELICHOV, Oleksandr DUBLYAN, Аnatolyi PETRENKO, IHOR PAVLOVKSYI, Oleh SHEVCHUK, Victor MUZHENKO The secretary of the working group: Dmytro KHRISTOFOROV Design: Oleksandr MOSKALENKO The annual edition “White book” is presented in accordance with the law of Ukraine «On the democratic and civil control on the military organization and the law enforcement authorities of the state», and also on the defence policy and problematic issues that occur in this particular sphere, as well as the ways for their solutions. The 13-th edition of the yearbook “White book-2017. Armed Forces of Ukraine” is dedicated to the issues of reforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The edition highlights the current state of affairs within the Armed Forces and the main directions for further military development. The materials presented in the yearbook are meant to be used by civil and military experts in the sphere of military development of the defence and security policy, but also by journalists, teachers and students of the appropriate higher educational facilities and faculties, and also by those that are interested in the state and the directions of development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. © Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, 2018 © Design, Private enterprise Moskalenko O.M., 2018 2 WHITE BOOK n 2017 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE n the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 2017 has been marked by a further gradual increasing momentum Iof the defence reform implementation. In my estimation, this year we have reached the milestone when the transformation process of our national troops into a powerful tool for ensuring military security of the State became irreversible. We have laid a solid foundation for Ukraine’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic security environment. This is confirmed by tangible progress in the politico-military, military-technical and solely military areas of activity of the Ministry of Defence and the all of each has been achieved over the past two years of reforms. Separately, I would like to emphasize that systemic changes and drastic renewal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine would have been impossible without the support of civil society, without public confidence in those in uniform and without the support of the President of Ukraine and the Government. Due to this and being aware of our responsibility to the people of Ukraine, we held firm on the line of delineation in the East of our country, despite provocations from the aggressor and his proxies. Instead, we managed to significantly improve our tactical position, take control of several populated areas without violating the Minsk agreements, and bring peace and security to homes in liberated territories. We have successfully implemented the main tasks set forth in the Strategic Defence Bulletin for 2017. The principles of capabilities-based planning have been developed and prepared for implementation as part of the improvement of approaches to defence planning. The Unified List (Catalogue) of Capabilities of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been issued. The regulatory framework in the defence domain has been improved with the assistance of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the support of the President of Ukraine and the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. One of the basic documents of defence reform - the State Program for the Development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the period up to 2020 - has been endorsed. In 2017, we proceeded with reform and development of the command and control system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, building-up capabilities of military authorities, improving quality of operational and combat command and control based on Euro-Atlantic principles and standards. Being guided by these standards measures were taken to optimize the C2 system of forces and assets engaged in the anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. A transition was made from three to two task forces, new areas of responsibility, operational order of battle, control procedures, interaction and comprehensive support were identified. Sustained attention was paid to maintaining the momentum of the re-equipment of the Armed Forces with new and refurbished materiel, which made it possible to meet forces’ basic needs in 2017. 21 items were made operational and over 2,500 of new and refurbished items of armament WHITE BOOK n 2017 3 and military equipment were procured and included in the inventory as a result of the State Target Defence Program implementation in 2017. Due to a balanced allocation of resources between the two areas of military training – units engaged in missions in the area of ​​the anti-terrorist operation (areas of combat operations) and regional units performing standing tasks – we managed to significantly increase the level of military training. As a result, the number of brigade-level tactical exercises has increased by 1.7 times compared to last year. Exercise Enduring Sustainability-2017, the strategic command and staff exercise with military authorities and troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, became the main training activity of the Armed Forces in 2017 with planning activity with reservists being undertaken for the first time. A stable trend towards the improvement of training facilities for troops (forces) was achieved in 2017. The modern Simulation Centre started its operation as one of the most advanced centres in Eastern Europe. The construction of a modern permanent brigade camp was launched. Significant progress has been made in food supply and military uniforms and accessories supplies to the Armed Forces. The service personnel finally received high quality uniform suited to different types of activities and to combat. The Armed Forces have much to be proud of in terms of the nutri- tional system for service personnel based on new approaches. 23 military units were switched to a new nutritional system according to the Food Products Catalogue.In addition, a new Enhanced Daily Field Ration Pack (DFRP-E) with seven menu options was tested in military units. A clear awareness of the positive impact of the declared social guarantees to service personnel made it possible to raise the level of motivation to commit to military service in 2017. The amount of supplementary benefits for participation in the anti-terrorist operation, service in assault units, Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces has increased. The payment of monetary compensa- tion for housing provision and for renting houses was made. The construction of residential areas to accommodate contracted service personnel is under way. Due to this, the Armed Forces manning has been successfully sustained and the foundations to retain the most qualified-contracted service personnel have been created. The network of military educational establishments and research institutions has been expanded. The Military Institute of Tank Forces, the State Research and Development Institute for Testing and Certification of Arms and Military Equipment, and three Military Training Chairs were established. Practical cooperation with NATO has been enhanced; interaction with foreign advisers from 14 NATO member countries has been continued as well as the implementation of the Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, including 8 NATO Trust Funds. In 2017, measures were taken to increase the efficiency of the use of financial and material resources, resulting in the Ministry’s of Defence budget being used by 99.9%. Much has been achieved. However, there are more challenges ahead in 2018, which I personally consider to be a turning point in implementing reforms. One of the main tasks set for this year is implementation of the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On the Peculiarities of the State Policy on Ensuring Ukraine’s State Sovereignty over Temporarily Occupied Territories in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts”. We also expect the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to endorse the Draft Law “On the National Security of Ukraine” in 2018. This Law will make it possible to create a solid legal foundation for the implementation of strategic goals defined by the defence reform as well as to underpin the legal principles of ensuring state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and of gaining membership to the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. First of all I rely on the support of civil society. I am quite confident in the support from democratic countries of the world in implementing the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine. I believe in the inevitability of our victory over the aggressor and the restoration of the territorial integrity of our state. Glory to Ukraine! General of the Army of Ukraine Stepan POLTORAK 4 WHITE BOOK n 2017 CONTENT Opening statement of the Minister of Defence of Ukraine ................................................. 3 Chapter 1 RESULTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE REFORM IN 2017 AND PARTICIPATION IN THE ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATION .............................6 Chapter 2 COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE ARMED FORCES, THEIR STRUCTURE AND MANPOWER ...................................................................40