Air Force Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (07/08)

The Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, celebrated annually on the first Sunday of August, was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko of June 27, 2007, given the importance of the Air Force in ensuring the defense capability of the state.

After the collapse of the USSR and the declaration of independence, Ukraine inherited a large aviation group with modern aircraft, on the basis of which the Ukrainian Air Force was created, in accordance with the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated March 17, 1992. By that time, there were 4 air armies, 10 air divisions, 49 air regiments, 11 separate squadrons, educational and special institutions on the territory of the country; in total about 600 military units, 2800 aircraft, over 120 thousand military personnel.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Povіtryanі Sili Zbroynyh Forces of Ukraine) is a type of the Armed Forces designed, together with the Air Defense Forces, to protect the airspace of the state, destroy enemy targets from the air, air support for their troops, landing airborne troops, air transportation of troops and materiel and aerial reconnaissance.

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