Talk:Special Operations Forces (Ukraine)

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Military history: European / Russian & Soviet

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Ukraine Mid‑importance

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Merge with Special forces of Ukraine & Title Change

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. A summary of the conclusions reached follows.

To not merge as Special Operations Forces (Ukraine) is an independently notable subset of Special forces of Ukraine. Klbrain (talk) 13:49, 5 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I propose that this page should be merged with Special forces of Ukraine, or vice versa. Not sure which direction to merge, but perhaps the page title should be changed to align more with the official title of "Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" (but maybe leave out the "of the Armed Forces" part). - Yaakovaryeh (talk) 23:23, 2 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Are you sure that’s right? It looks to me like this article is about a specific brach of service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while the other is more of a survey article of special-forces type units in Ukraine, including this one, but also of units within the National Guard, the SBU, Border Guard, and National Police. —Michael Z. 15:42, 3 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, maybe you're right... but that is confusing. The first sentence defines this article as being about "the special forces of Ukraine" rather than one of several. Perhaps we should change the title and first sentence to "Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" (which anyways seems to be the official title and translation of the Ukrainian text), as well as add WP:DISAMBIG templates. (Also, I'm a bit confused by the other articles usage of the term "special forces" to refer to specialized non-military units. Specialized non-military units like SWAT, the FBI's HRT & CIRG, and even the CIA's SAC/SOG, are generally not referred to as "special forces", which refers specifically to special military forces.) - Yaakovaryeh (talk) 04:47, 6 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I think most of all of these are classified together. Certainly the National Guard and FSB units are undertaking military operations now. —Michael Z. 03:16, 7 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]

That does not make them part of the Ministry of Defense, if you think it does then please provide the sources.Degen Earthfast (talk) 13:47, 28 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose- The Special forces of Ukraine is an article of all of the special-forces type units in Ukraine, both military and paramilitary, while Special Operations Forces (Ukraine) is about a specific branch of service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.Degen Earthfast (talk) 13:47, 28 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Strength

Regarding this edit: [1], I fail to see anything about 5,000 in the source. Also we should reflect the actual strength, not some "authorized" figure, and IISS is actually pretty reputable source.--Staberinde (talk) 10:59, 7 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

article already states SSO had a strength level of 4,000 by 2021 and a further increase in end strength by 2022. Ukr government in this case is a better source than ISS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Goggo2022 (talk • contribs) 11:44, 7 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Please provide Ukrainian government source explicitly stating that Special Operations Forces have strength of 5,000. You can't simply do your own math by combining numbers in some old sources and adding up some new numbers, this is WP:SYNTH and is not allowed.--Staberinde (talk) 12:42, 7 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Also I would note that strength authorized by law and real strength are different things. We should provide real numbers.--Staberinde (talk) 13:29, 7 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Operations in Syria Section

I suggest we add a section about Ukrainian Special Forces attacking Russian Forces in Syria. There have been at least two attacks this year (2024) before the Assad regime fell. I have multiple sources on this.

Also side note why is this page fully protected and not semi protected? Have you had trouble? Historyguy1138 (talk) 16:36, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 9 December 2024

It is requested that an edit be made to the extended-confirmed-protected article at Special Operations Forces (Ukraine). (edit · history · last · links · protection log)

This template must be followed by a complete and specific description of the request, that is, specify what text should be removed and a verbatim copy of the text that should replace it. "Please change X" is not acceptable and will be rejected; the request must be of the form "please change X to Y".

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Historyguy1138 (talk) 21:47, 9 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I suggest we add a section about Ukrainian Special Forces attacking Russian Forces in Syria called Operation in Syria. There have been at least two attacks this year (2024) before the Assad regime fell. I have multiple sources on this.

"Here is my idea of what this edit could look like and could be put bellow the Operating in Sudan Section:"

In April of 2023, the Washington post reported on a leaked U.S. Intelligence document (one of many leaked by Airmen Jack Teixeira) which suggested that the Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR), was planning on attacking Russian military and Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine, but the idea was scrapped by President Zelenskyy. The plan was to "start small" by implementing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes on Russian units. It was also suggested that Ukrainian Special forces would covertly ally themselves with the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and provide U.A.V. and ariel defense training for their People’s Protection Units or (YPG). Both Ukrainian and Kurdish military representatives denied these claims. The document indicated that low level fighting in the Syrian battlefield could give Ukraine deniability options and blame small scale attacks on various non state actors. The leak further suggests that Turkey may have been aware of Ukraine's alleged plans and approved of it, in the hopes of baiting Moscow to attack the (SDF), which are considered enemies of Turkey.[1]

In June 2024 the Kyiv post reported on a video obtained from the (HUR) and dated to March 2024 describing Ukrainian Special forces designated the "Khimik" group teaming up with Syrian rebels to assault Russian mercenaries in the Golan Heights area. The article describes the Ukrainian and Syrian forces specifically targeting "checkpoints, strongholds, foot patrols, military vehicle columns", using rocket-propelled grenades, "Tarab" mortars, and radio controlled and (IED) equipped explosive suicide vehicles. The report suggests that Ukraine is targeting Russian units in part due to Russian efforts to recruit Syrian mercenaries via the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria at the Khmeimim Air Base to fight for Russia in Ukraine.[2] There were (as of May 2024) fourteen Russian Observation posts and three bases along the Israel controlled Golan Heights area, along with Syrian rebel groups, and Iranian backed groups making which Israel has been targeting. Russia uses these Observation posts to gather Intelligence on Israeli weapons used on Iranian forces, which are similar in design to the ones the West provides Ukraine. This makes the area an excellent staging ground for Ukrainian clandestine attacks on Russian positions.[3]

In July the Kyiv post released another report with a video displaying the Khimik group drone striking Russian military hardware in, the then Russian controlled Kuweires Military Aviation Institute and air base near Aleppo. The base was used by the Russians for air assaults, testing UAVs, and training and transferring Russian mercenaries.[4]

The Khimik group again attacked Kuweires Airbase on September 15 2024, this time specifically targeting the bases UAV testing hardware.[5]

On November 27 2024, the Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom targeting the Aleppo during the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives. Imbedded within the invading force were the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria (TIP) participated and was trained by the the Khimik group. It has been alleged, but unconfirmed that the Khimik group participated in the attack on Aleppo with their Tip allies. Since the Syrian victory the Kuweires Airbase has been evacuated by the Russians.[6]

Hill, Evan; Alex, Horton (4 April 2024). "Ukraine planned attacks on Russian forces in Syria, leaked document shows". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
Zakharchenko, Kateryna (3 June 2024). "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Ukrainian Special Forces and Syrian Rebels Decimate Russian Mercenaries in Syria". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
Molinari, Maurizio (4 May 2024). "The Russian Flag on Golan Heights". La Repubblica. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
Zakharchenko, Kateryna (31 July 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian HUR Special Forces Deliver Devastating Strike on Russian Base in Syria". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
Zakharchenko, Kateryna (16 September 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine's HUR Special Forces Target Russian Drone Base in Syria". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
"Ukrainian Trained, Turkish Sponsored Syrian Rebels Lead Assault on Aleppo". Kyiv Post. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.