From ancient coats of arms to modern chevrons, the history of Ukrainian military symbols tells not only about the transformation of the army, but also about the revival of national identity. Each emblem has a unique story behind it, combining the Cossack heritage, the traditions of the Ukrainian People's Republic and modern combat symbols.
Today, the armbands of the Ukrainian military are not just decorative elements of the uniform. They reflect a deep connection between the past and the present, tell the story of the units' combat path and honor the heroes of Ukrainian history. Each symbol, color, and element has its own meaning, which has been formed over centuries of military traditions.
After Russia's full-scale invasion, military uniforms became an integral part of Ukrainian society. However, every chevron we see on the streets has a unique story behind it. Let's take a look at what these symbols tell us and how they reflect the development of the modern Ukrainian army.
From ancient coats of arms to modern chevrons, the history of Ukrainian military symbols tells not only about the transformation of the army, but also about the revival of national identity. Each emblem has a unique story behind it, combining the Cossack heritage, the traditions of the Ukrainian People's Republic and modern combat symbols.
Today, the armbands of the Ukrainian military are not just decorative elements of the uniform. They reflect a deep connection between the past and the present, tell the story of the units' combat path and honor the heroes of Ukrainian history. Each symbol, color, and element has its own meaning, which has been formed over centuries of military traditions.
After Russia's full-scale invasion, military uniforms became an integral part of Ukrainian society. However, every chevron we see on the streets has a unique story behind it. Let's take a look at what these symbols tell us and how they reflect the development of the modern Ukrainian army.
The patches of the Ukrainian military, both official and informal, like the Yoda Kid, have become not just an element of uniform, but a real symbol of transformation. They clearly demonstrate how the Armed Forces of Ukraine are moving away from the Soviet past and taking on a modern look.
The Ukrainian army has managed to get rid of the Soviet legacy in its uniforms, insignia, and armbands. However, this process gained full force only after the Russian aggression in 2014.
"When choosing the symbols for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, we were guided by a key principle: our army is not the heir to either Soviet or Russian military traditions. Therefore, all design elements had to be based on the historical heritage of Ukrainian armed forces, in particular the period of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921."
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, military uniforms have become an integral part of everyday life. However, for civilians, the armbands often remain just an incomprehensible pattern. In fact, they carry a deep meaning - they reflect the role of the unit, its history, values, and even the heroes who inspire the military.
Traditionally, Ukrainian soldiers wear a badge on their right sleeve that indicates their affiliation with a particular branch or type of military. On the left, they wear the emblem of their particular military unit.
Such signs are also called patches and sometimes chevrons. Although in terms of military terminology, a chevron is just an angular patch in the shape of a Λ or V, in colloquial speech this word has become a general designation for any armband emblem.
On the right hand. Land, water and sky
Land Forces Air Force Navy
The main clue to which branch of the Armed Forces a soldier serves in is the shape of his armband.
The shield symbolizes the earth, the triangle symbolizes air, and the circle symbolizes water. This system of shapes is not accidental, but is based on historical traditions and associations.
The shield shape is one of the most common in the military heraldry of many countries. In Ukraine, such chevrons belong to the largest military branch, the Land Forces.
The Air Force wears triangular emblems with the top pointing upward. This is a reference to the insignia used on the aircraft of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Even the shape of the trident on these patches has its origins in the aviation symbols of the UPR.
The Navy chose a round shape that resembles a ship's porthole. The combination of a trident and an anchor is a historical symbol that was used in the UPR Navy and the Navy of Skoropadskyi's Ukrainian State.
Airborne assault troops
Special Operations Forces
Airborne assault troops and the Special Operations Forces also have original forms of armbands.
The paratroopers' chevron resembles a parachute, a symbol of airborne assault. Its maroon color replaced the Soviet blue that was used earlier. This dark red hue is traditional for paratroopers in 59 countries, including Ukraine.
Historically, this color was pioneered by the British military, which in 1923 first conducted an airborne assault of approximately 500 soldiers of King George V in Iraq. Since then, maroon berets have become an integral part of airborne troops in many armies around the world, including the Ukrainian army.
The Special Operations Forces chose a diamond shape for their armband, which resembles a faceted gem. This design emphasizes the unique status of this unit and its membership in the military elite.
Unlike other branches of the armed forces, the Special Operations Forces did not wear a trident, but a stylized double-pointed sword of Svyatoslav the Brave, the prince of Kievan Rus, who is their symbolic patron saint. His famous phrase "I'm coming for you!" has become the official battle cry of the Special Operations Forces, reflecting their determination and offensive nature.
Mechanised troops Mountain infantry Territorial defence forces
The emblem of the mechanized troops is based on the traditional olive color for military uniforms, and the blue trident refers to the symbols of the UPR infantry.
The mounted infantry retained only the olive border, while the shield itself became gray, reflecting the color of the mountain rocks.
The territorial defense forces are the youngest separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. One of the main challenges for the TDF is the lack of equipment. Nevertheless, their armband contains the emblem of mechanized troops, complemented by the image of a fortress wall.
This symbol has a double meaning: on the one hand, it brings the TRO closer to the ground forces of which they are actually a part, and on the other hand, it emphasizes their main mission - the defense of the regions, which is based on local residents.
Each terrorist defense brigade has its own chevron, which necessarily includes a fortress wall, and the emblems often reflect the coats of arms of the units' hometowns.
Medical forces
The color of the trident on the chevron of the Medical Forces was not chosen by chance. It is a shade of cinnamon, or cinnamon. The UPR army even called it cinnamon, not brown. This color was used to identify military doctors because cinnamon was known for its medicinal properties. Its benefits are still relevant today - cinnamon essential oil remains a component of cold medicines.
Communications and cybersecurity troops
Radio engineering troops
Tank troops
The color black is traditionally associated with military units that work with equipment. This practice existed even in Soviet times, but it was first introduced by French tankers in the First World War, who chose black berets. The reason is purely practical: stains from oil and fuel are less visible on dark fabric. The UPR troops also followed this trend, using black for engineering units.
Missile forces and artillery
Air defense of the ground forces
Air defense missile forces
Red symbolizes fire, and in the military context, the explosions of shells and missiles. That is why this color became the basis for the emblems of the Rocket Forces, Artillery, Air Defense Forces and Air Defense Forces of Ukraine. In many countries of the world, red is associated with artillerymen, and even in the Ukrainian People's Republic army, the artillery trident had this particular shade.
Military law enforcement service
Red is also used by the Military Law Enforcement Service, but here it is not associated with fire. It is the traditional color of the Military Police in almost all NATO countries.
Air Force Aviation
Army Aviation
A hundred years ago, the white trident was worn by the military gendarmerie of the Ukrainian People's Republic. White is the color of wings, which is intuitively associated with aviation. The chevrons of the Air Force Aviation and the Army Aviation are a vivid example of how the shape of the armband distinguishes between the two types of armed forces. The fact that the Army Aviation belongs to the Land Forces is emphasized by the olive color of the shield, which is typical for the "land forces".
The round chevrons immediately point to the Navy. The color of the trident gives a clue: the white wings are naval aviation, and the red fire is the coastal forces, which defend the coast with artillery and missiles.
Naval aviation
Coastal Forces
Marine Corps
The Marine Corps emblem is significantly different - its style is close to the trident of Neptune or Poseidon. However, it may soon change. In May, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of the Marine Corps to strengthen this branch of the military. If the Marine Corps becomes a separate branch of the Armed Forces, its armband will also have a unique shape.
From knights to microchips: military command and control
Among the armbands of military command and control bodies, we will highlight three that we believe to be the most interesting.
Chevron of the Land Forces Command
The shield of the chevron of the Land Forces Command combines three colors: olive - the protective shade of the army, blue - the color of mechanized units, and red - the symbol of artillery. Thus, the emblem reflects the structure of the units subordinate to the command.
At first glance, it may seem that tank troops have been forgotten, but their symbolism is embedded in the image of a knight's glove. Medieval attributes are often used in tank units.
The hand clutches a diving rod, a symbol of command that in Cossack times was an attribute of power of kurin atamans and colonels in Ukraine.
Land Forces Command
Chevron of the Special Operations Forces Command
The emblem of the SSO command is associated with the legends of the Cossack heroes, who were credited with supernatural powers. According to legend, they could only be killed by a silver bullet in the heart, so they went into battle fearlessly. It was also believed that they could catch arrows with their hands and make bullets change trajectory. One of their mystical powers is the ability to turn into wolves.
That is why the chevron depicts a werewolf holding two arrows in its teeth. A whole arrow means a neutralized enemy, a broken arrow means a destroyed enemy. And it is up to the wolf's decision, i.e. the leadership of the SSU, to decide who to eliminate and who to deprive of the opportunity to attack.
Special Operations Forces Command
Chevron Command of the Communications and Cyber Security Forces
On the chevron of the Communications and Cyber Security Troops command, a microcircuit symbolizing digital technology immediately catches the eye. Then you can see crossed lightning bolts, which in the UPR army denoted military communication. The composition is completed by a Cossack bunchuk, the insignia of a hetman and a kosh ataman.
Thus, the symbol combines three historical periods that demonstrate the evolution of military communications - from Cossack times to modern technology.
Command of the Communications and Cyber Security Troops
On the left hand. Twelve Ukrainian brigades
When creating armbands for military units, their symbols may include elements that reflect the unit's combat traditions, its place of deployment or formation. If the unit has an honorary name, the emblem may have a corresponding legend, and the shield may have a motto on top of it.
The main requirements for chevrons include avoiding the use of numbering parts and placing inscriptions inside the heraldic shield.
Until 2019, the approval of armbands was the responsibility of the Chief of the General Staff. Subsequently, this function was taken over by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
However, many military units have developed their own chevrons without official approval. Such unofficial emblems often stand out from the crowd with their style and composition.
We have collected 12 of the most interesting armbands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades.
101st Security Brigade of the General Staff named after Gennadiy Vorobyov
The symbolism of the chevron of the 101st Brigade reflects its main task - guarding the General Staff. The knight's gauntlet and halberds are traditionally associated with guards, while the blue brick wall symbolizes the General Staff itself.
The 101st Separate Brigade named after Colonel General Hennadiy Vorobyov does not belong to any branch of the Armed Forces and reports directly to the Commander-in-Chief and the General Staff.
Separate presidential brigade named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky
The former Separate Presidential Regiment, known for its Orchestra and Honor Guard Battalion, has been transformed into a brigade defending Kyiv and fighting in the east after the large-scale invasion.
The main element of the emblem is the "Serdyuk Star", consisting of a shining cross and diving birds. Serdyuks were military units of the 17th and 18th centuries that were formed for the personal protection of hetmans. The tradition of these units was continued during the Ukrainian People's Republic and Hetman Skoropadsky.
The brigade's shield is crimson in color, the same shade worn by the Serdyuks in the Ukrainian People's Republic.
72nd Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians
The skulls found on the emblems of some brigades are known as Adam's Head, a symbol of death, courage, and disregard for danger. This symbol originated with the Black Cossacks, a cavalry division of the Ukrainian People's Republic Army (1918-1920), who used it on their flag along with the motto "Ukraine or Death."
The 72nd Mechanized Brigade is named after these soldiers. Its chevron includes an Adam's head, a black triangle (symbolizing a splint) and a red background - the color of the coat of arms of Bila Tserkva, where the brigade is stationed.
30th mechanized brigade named after Prince Ostrozkyi
Prince Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi, who defeated the Muscovites in the Battle of Orsha in 1514, left a significant mark on history. He is considered one of the greatest military leaders of the 16th century.
The emblem of the 30th Brigade includes a stylized image of the seal of the Princes of Ostroh. The red color on the shield symbolizes Volyn, and the black color symbolizes the land. The brigade's motto, "Dei Gratia" ("By God's Grace"), is taken from the titles of European rulers.
54th Mechanized Brigade named after Ivan Mazepa
The armband of the 54th Brigade, the 10-hryvnia banknote, and the Kyiv Cave Monastery share a common element: the six-pointed star and crescent moon, which were depicted on the coat of arms of Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
This symbol can be seen on the facade of the Church of All Saints in the Kyiv Cave Monastery, and since 2022, on the emblem of the brigade named after him.
The brigade's motto was a phrase from Mazepa's Duma: "May glory be eternal, but we have the right to the saber!"
Kostya Hordiyenko 57th Infantry Brigade
On the chevron of the 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade, you can see a symbol that resembles a runic sign. However, it is actually an arrow, an element of Kostiantyn Hordiienko's family coat of arms. This prominent ataman led the Oleshky and Kamianske Sich in the territory of modern Kherson oblast and was an ally of Hetman Mazepa in his confrontation with Peter the Great.
It is symbolic that the modern brigade, which was named after Hordiienko in 2019, is deployed on the lands where the famous ataman once operated. In his heraldry, Hordiienko used elements of the Nesobia coat of arms, which combines an arrow and the tail of a black eagle. An interesting legend from the eleventh century tells how the Poles, having shot the tail of a black eagle before a battle with the Czechs, predicted their victory. Centuries later, this ancient symbol found its place on the emblem of Ukrainian soldiers.
93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodny Yar"
The emblem of this brigade combines historical heritage and contemporary literature in black and white. The Kholodnoyarsk Republic, which existed in the Cherkasy region in 1919-1922, became a symbol of the struggle against Soviet rule on the Right Bank. Its existence was tragically cut short by a treacherous operation of the Cheka.
Vasyl Shklyar's Shevchenko Prize-winning novel The Black Crow tells the story of Ivan Chernousov, commander of the Lebedyn Regiment. Although the brigade is not based in the Cherkasy region, but in the village of Cherkaske, Dnipro Oblast, its soldiers chose the name Kholodny Yar and the symbol of the black raven, emphasizing the national significance of this heroic page in history.
The 17th Tank Brigade named after Kostiantyn Pestushko
This Kryvyi Rih brigade is named after the chief ataman of Kholodnyi Yar. The central figure of the emblem is a knight, a traditional symbol of tank troops, which are considered the heirs of the heavy knightly cavalry. The colors of the shield reflect the colors of Kryvyi Rih, and the black triangle symbolizes the slot on the headgear of the Pestushko Division soldiers and the traditional color of tank units.
92nd Mechanized Brigade named after Ivan Sirko
The legendary Zaporozhian Sich chieftain Ivan Sirko, immortalized in Repin's famous painting, became the brigade's patron saint. Its emblem depicts Turkish tufeks, symbolizing the Cossacks' victorious battles against the Ottoman Empire. The palisade in the lower part of the shield represents the Zaporozhian Sich, and the yellow and green colors reflect the colors of the Kharkiv region, where the brigade is located.
19th Saint Barbara Missile Brigade
The brigade, named after the patron saint of rocket scientists, St. Barbara, has an unusual symbol on its emblem: a scorpion. This is due to the use of Tochka-U missile systems, whose flight path resembles the curve of a scorpion's tail. The designers creatively reinterpreted this image, turning the scorpion's sting into a missile. The fire color of the shield traditionally symbolizes artillery units.
The art of subtle hinting
In the office of the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, visitors are bound to notice a remarkable detail of the interior: a painting of an owl holding a bat in its talons. This image is of particular significance, as the bat has been the official emblem of Russian military intelligence for over 30 years.
The appearance of a wise and formidable owl on the DIU emblem in 2016 was not accidental. As you know, owls are natural hunters of small rodents, which was obviously a decisive factor in choosing this symbol.
The symbolism is reinforced by the fact that the owl is holding a sword aimed at the silhouette of the Russian Federation. The Latin inscription "Sapiens dominabitur astris" ("The wise will rule over the stars") adds a special piquancy, which takes on an ironic connotation in light of the motto of Russian intelligence: "Only the stars are above us".
Thus, through the language of symbols and images, the emblem of the Ukrainian military intelligence clearly indicates the main enemy of the state.
