Day of Logistics Support Specialists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Date in the current year: October 11, 2024

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU, sometimes anglicized as AFU) are the military forces of Ukraine. According to the country’s constitution, their main task is to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of Ukraine. The ZSU consist of three branches (Army/Ground Force, Air Force, Navy) and several forces that do not belong to any of the branches, including the Logistics Forces Command of the ZSU.

The history of the Logistics Forces Command can be traced back to October 11, 2016, when he Ministry of Defense of Ukraine issued a decree outlining the main operating principles of the Logistics Forces. However, it took another year and a half to actually establish them. In 2018, President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree ordering the creation of the Logistics Forces Command in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The sleeve emblem of the Logistics Forces Command was approved on June 10, 2019. It consists of a dark blue triangular shield with a stylized image of a knight’s armor within a stylized image of a Zeughaus (armory). The armor symbolizes weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, whereas the Zeughaus symbolizes the storage of weapons, equipment, food, and uniforms. Two crossed golden pernachs (flanged maces) stand for two main services of the Logistics Forces Command, the Armed Forces Armaments and Ordnance Service and the Rear Service.

The Armed Forces Armaments and Ordnance Service is responsible for providing the ZSU with the entire nomenclature of weapons, ammunition, military equipment, etc., whereas the Rear Service provides the armed forces with fuel and lubricants, food, uniforms, medical supplies, spare parts, non-military equipment, and anything else the troops may need.

Without reliable logistics, even the strongest army in the world is doomed to defeat in a long-lasting war. Therefore logistics support specialists of the Ukrainian Armed Forces must fulfill their duties with the utmost diligence and promptly provide the troops with fuel and lubricants, food, water, ammunition, equipment, and many other things that the Armed Forces require during peacetime and, more importantly, in combat.

The Day of Logistics Support Specialists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was established in 2023, during the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Logistics Forces Command played a crucial role in defense from invaders and subsequent counteroffensive operations of the ZSU, and there is no doubt that logistics support specialists serving in the ZSU deserve to be celebrated.

On the occasion of the inaugural celebration, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released an official congratulation to highlight the importance of the work of logistics support specialists during the war and express gratitude for their hard work and dedication.