Branch
Surface-to-Air Missile Forces
The ground-based air-defence arm of the Air Force — SAM brigades and regiments layered from legacy S-300 and Buk to Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS and SAMP/T.
Kyiv-alignedAirGround-based air defence arm of the Air Force
Broad area of activity
Nationwide layered defence of cities, infrastructure and the front-line rear.
Notable history
Fought the opening missile campaigns on legacy S-300 and Buk systems, then integrated Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS and SAMP/T into a single layered network — including publicly documented ballistic-missile intercepts over Kyiv from 2023.
Strengths
Arguably the most combat-experienced integrated air-defence force anywhere; proven mixed-fleet integration under fire.
Limitations
Interceptor stocks are hostage to Western resupply politics; geography forces triage between cities, infrastructure and the front.
Subordinate & associated
- 96th Anti-Aircraft Missile BrigadeFormation
Documented equipment
Sensitivity: Public · structuralAssessment confidence: highStatus as of 2026-07Reviewed 2026-07Sources: Ukrainian military and General Staff statements · Established international media reporting · ISW campaign assessments · MilitaryLand.net Ukrainian force-structure tracking · IISS Military BalanceMethodology