Already Carrying Out Tasks: Ukraine Completes Transition of Armed Forces to Corps Structure

Ukraine has completed the transition of its Armed Forces to a corps structure.

Major General Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, told Ukrinform news agency that all newly formed corps have already been assigned to key operational groupings.

The General Staff organized and carried out extensive work by simultaneously preparing all ten new corps directorates.

This process required significant effort, including the advanced preparation of Ukrainian personnel. Before taking command, the headquarters staff also received training from instructors from partner countries.

“It is clear that there are nuances in terms of staffing, training, and changes that are already taking place within these structures,” Hnatov said.

The restructuring also involved strengthening the Assault Troops and Cyber Forces.

The 3rd, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Army Corps, as well as the 8th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces, have been established.

These corps were subordinated to Ukraine’s Ground Forces operational commands and the command of the Airborne Assault Forces.

Plans to transition the Ground Forces to a corps system were announced in November 2024. At the start of 2025, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces confirmed that implementation had begun.

Army corps historically emerged with the growth of mass armies, when the scale of combat operations expanded and control of military formations became more complex, requiring larger troop groupings and a wider range of equipment.

The creation of the corps was also driven by the need to consolidate military forces under independent operational commands.