{"id":42218,"date":"2025-02-05T18:29:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T17:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/?p=42218"},"modified":"2025-08-09T22:44:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T20:44:19","slug":"who-are-the-ukrainian-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/militaryland.net\/ua\/news\/who-are-the-ukrainian-rangers\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0425\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0456 \u0443\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0456 \u0440\u0435\u0439\u043d\u0434\u0436\u0435\u0440\u0438"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2024, the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) experienced their largest expansion since their establishment in 2016 with the formation of four Ranger regiments under the command of the newly created Ranger Corps. We previously covered<\/a> the Ranger Corps on June 4, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the origins of these units trace back to 2022, during Ukraine\u2019s offensive toward Kupyansk and Kherson. At the time, the Armed Forces command sought an answer to a critical question: Who had the experience to lead and spearhead assaults on fortified Russian positions – be the razor of these operations? The mechanized forces lacked combat experience, while the Air Assault Forces, though highly capable, could not single-handedly breach enemy defenses and advance beyond the front lines. The solution emerged in the form of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) units\u2014though never originally intended for such operations and lacking heavy vehicles, their soldiers were the best-trained force Ukraine had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, while both operations were successful, the decision came at a high cost for the SSO. Their highly trained operators were lost in battle\u2014dying in Humvees while assaulting enemy positions and in the trenches while awaiting the arrival of mechanized reinforcements.<\/p>\n\n\n