Special Operations Forces (Ukraine)
| Special Operations Forces | |
|---|---|
| Сили спеціальних операцій, ССО ЗСУ Syly Spetsialnykh Operatsiy, SSO ZSU | |
Emblem of the Special Operations Forces | |
| Founded | 5 January 2016 |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role | Special operations Counter-terrorism Direct action Special reconnaissance Intelligence gathering Sabotage Psychological warfare |
| Size | 1,000–2,000 (2022) |
| Part of | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Garrison/HQ | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Motto(s) | I’m coming for you! |
| Color of beret | Steel Grey |
| March | "Song of the Brave" |
| Anniversaries | 29 July |
| Engagements | |
| Website | sof |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Trepak |
| Insignia | |
| Flag | |
| Shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Cap badge | |
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Сили спеціальних операцій Збройних сил України,, romanized: Syly spetsialnykh operatsii Zbroinykh syl Ukrainy, abbreviated ССО, SSO) are the special forces of Ukraine and one of the eight branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with headquarters in Kyiv.
The SSO has the roles including various special forces-related duties such as direct action, special reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, sabotage and psychological warfare. They are not the only special forces units in Ukraine. The SSO was created in 2016, after various reforms of the Ukrainian Armed Forces due to failures in the war in Donbas. The Ukrainian special forces groups were trained on the model of NATO reaction forces. Reorganizing by concentrating the special forces command into a single unified branch. Previously, military Spetsnaz were under the command of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), Ukraine's military intelligence service.