Ukrainian Ground Forces Day Date in the current year: December 12, 2024

The Ukrainian Ground Forces are the land force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They were formed in 1991 on the basis of former Soviet Ground Forces formations that were deployed on the territory of Ukraine when the USSR collapsed. Ukraine inherited about 780,000 personnel and thousands of armored vehicles, tanks, and tactical nuclear missiles. However, it lacked a proper command structure.

The post of commander of ground troops was created in 1992. Four years later, Ukrainian Ground Forces were established as a separate branch of the country's Armed Forces. The Ground Forces reform began in the 2000s, aiming at reducing the number of troops and transitioning to a fully professional military.

Since their creation, the Ground Forces of Ukraine have participated in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Africa (Ivory Coast, Sudan and South Sudan, Liberia, and the DR Congo). They have also taken part in the 2014 Crimean crisis and War in Donbass.