Operational Command North

{{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Operational Command North | native_name = Оперативне командування «Північ» | image = ОК Північ к.svg | image_size = 200px | caption = Operation Command North sleeve patch | dates = 1996–present | country = {{UKR}} | branch = {{army|Ukraine}} |role= administrative control<ref name=MO1>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=12578|title=3rd anniversary of creation of the Directorate|lang=uk}}</ref> | type = Military district | command_structure = {{military|Ukraine}} | garrison = Chernihiv<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=12478|title=Contract personnel of the Directorate|lang=uk}}</ref> | garrison_label = | battles = | anniversaries = 15 August | decorations = | battle_honours =  | commander1 = Dmytro Krasylnykov | commander1_label = | start_date = | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | website = }}

The '''Operational Command North''' ({{langx|uk|Оперативне командування "Північ"}}) is a command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in northern Ukraine. It was formed in 2013 from the Operational Command West and Territorial Directorate North by reforming the 13th Army Corps.

The operation command traces its history back to '''Territorial Directorate "North"''', which was created on the basis of Northern Territorial Operational Command by Directive No.322/1/010 of the Minister of Defence of Ukraine on 20 May 2005.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=12578|script-title=uk:У Чернігові відбулися урочисті збори та святковий концерт з нагоди 3-ї річниці з дня створення Територіального управління “Північ” Сухопутних військ Збройних Сил України|date = 15 August 2008|work = mil.gov.ua|access-date = 18 February 2012|language = uk|trans-title = Meeting and concert held in Chernihiv for the 3rd anniversary of Territorial Directorate "North"|archive-date = 18 February 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120218231838/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=12578}}</ref>

The previous Northern Operational Command was created in 1996<ref>[http://defpol.org.ua/site/index.php/arhiv/obonoglyad/98-2009-09-09-16-26-35?start=1 Brief history of the Ukrainian military] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419044431/http://defpol.org.ua/site/index.php/arhiv/obonoglyad/98-2009-09-09-16-26-35?start=1 |date=2014-04-19 }}.</ref> and based on the 1st Army Corps that continued the traditions of the 1st Guard Red-Banner Army. It encompassed six oblasts: Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy. The command consisted of units and military formations of the 8th Army Corps.

On 15 August 2005, temporary Chief of the Directorate Colonel Yuriy Horoliuk signed the first Order within the Directive. This day is considered the creation date for the Directorate. The Territorial Directorate "North" was the first to switch to a new system of control.<ref name=":0" />

==History== thumb|right|Map of the Operational Command North shown in dark green

When Ukraine gained independence, the 1st Guards Army was stationed on Ukrainian territory with its headquarters at Chernihiv. During the early 1990s, the army was reformed into the 1st Army Corps. In 1996, the Northern Operational and Territorial Command was formed from the corps. At the beginning of 1998, the command was split into the Northern Operational Command, managing operations in the area. The Northern Territorial Command controlled other functions. In August 2005, Territorial Directorate "North" was established from the Northern Operational Command. The Directorate was responsible for territory spanning over {{convert|196000|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, in which 15,000,000 people lived in 2008. The oblasts (provinces) of Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy were all are under the Directorate control. The Directorate was in charge of the 7 oblasts and Kyiv City Military Commissariat, 135 regional military commissariats, 530 military units and bases.<ref name=":0" /> As of 2008, the mission of the directorate was to organize territorial defence, recruit conscripts and contract soldiers and manage infrastructure.<ref name=":0" />

In November 2013, the directorate was reformed into Operational Command North. The command absorbed units of the disbanded 13th Army Corps.

== Organization == thumb|right|500px|Structure of the Operational Command North in 2017 as per the best available Ukrainian language sources.

Operational Command North includes ground force units in Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy oblasts, as well as in the city of Kyiv.

* 35px '''Operational Command North''', Chernihiv, unit number A4583. ** 25px 1st Heavy Mechanized Siver Brigade, Honcharivske, unit number A1815. ** 25px 4th Tank Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi, Honcharivske, unit number A7015. ** 25px 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Konstantin Ostrozky, Zviahel, unit number А0409 ** 25px 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade, Zhytomyr, unit number A4773 ** 25px 32nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, unit number A4784 ** 25px 44th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Nizhyn, unit number A4723 ** 25px 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Magura", Kharkiv, unit number A4699 ** 25px 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi, Konotop, unit number A137 ** 25px 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians, Bila Tserkva, unit number A2167 ** 25px 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Marko Bezruchko, Cherkasy, unit number А4007 ** 25px 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Blahodatne, unit number A4053 ** 25px 26th Artillery Brigade named after Major General Roman Dashkevich, Berdychiv, unit number А3091 ** 25px 48th Separate Artillery Brigade, Poltava ** 25px 49th Separate Artillery Brigade, Chernihiv, unit number A0157 ** 25px 1020th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, Poltava, unit number A4647 ** 25px 1129th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, Bila Tserkva, unit number A1232 ** 25px 5th Signal Regiment, Chernihiv, unit number А2995 ** 25px 12th Support Regiment, Zviahel, unit number А3814 ** 25px 50th Maintenance Regiment, Huiva, unit number A1586 ** 25px 12th Separate Tank Battalion, Honcharivske, unit number A0932<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ukrmilitary.com/2019/06/new-tank-bat.html | title=Збройні Сили України формують нову танкову частину }}</ref> ** 25px 20th Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion, Huiva, unit number A1262 ** 25px 23rd Rifle Battalion, Kyiv, unit number A4438 ** 25px 33rd Rifle Battalion, Putyvl, unit number A4026 ** 25px 54th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion named after Mykhailo Tysha, Zviahel, unit number A2076 ** 25px 60th Rifle Battalion, unit number A4459 ** 25px 134th Security & Service Battalion, Chernihiv, unit number A1624 ** 181st Separate Material Support Battalion, Zviahel, unit number А2925 ** 25px 211th Special Operations Battalion, Sumy, unit number А4270 ** 226th Transport Battalion, Berdychiv, unit number A2927 ** 25px 376th Guards Battalion ** 25px 6th Combined Attack Drone Detachment "Vij", Kyiv, unit number A4583 ** 90th Command & Intelligence Center, in Chernihiv, unit number А1590 ** Regional Radioelectronic Intelligence (REI) Center, in Chernihiv, unit number A2622 *** 121st Maneuverable REI Center, Chernihiv, unit number A1783 *** 122nd REI Center, Chuhuiv, unit number A1993

=== Additional forces === The following formations of other branches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, respectively the general staff of the Ukrainian ground forces, are based in the area of Operational Command North and can be assigned to the command as needed:

* 25px 101st General Staff Guard Brigade, in Kyiv

* '''Ground Forces''': ** 25px Presidential Brigade, in Kyiv ** 20px 3rd Assault Brigade, in Kyiv ** 25px 5th Assault Brigade, in Konotop ** 25px 18th Army Aviation Brigade, in Poltava ** 25px 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade, in Sumy ** 25px 43rd Artillery Brigade, in Pyriatyn ** 25px 107th Rocket Artillery Brigade, in Kremenchuk ** 1121st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Training), in Desna

* '''Air Assault Forces''': ** 25px 46th Airmobile Brigade, in Poltava ** 25px 71st Jaeger Brigade, in Kremenchuk ** 25px 77th Airmobile Brigade, in Zhytomyr ** 25px 91st Support Brigade, in Okhtyrka ** 25px 95th Air Assault Brigade, in Zhytomyr ** 25px 148th Artillery Brigade, in Zhytomyr ** 25px 132nd Intelligence Battalion, in Zhytomyr ** 25px 135th Command and Support Battalion, in Zhytomyr ** 170th Logistic Battalion, in Zhytomyr

* '''Air Force''': ** 25px 96th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade, in Danylivka ** 25px 138th Radio Technical Brigade, in Vasylkiv ** 25px 156th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in Zolotonosha ** 210th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, in Uman ** 25px 31st Communication Regiment, in Kyiv ** 2204th Electronic Warfare Battalion, in Vasylkiv

* '''Special Operations Forces''': ** 25px 99th Headquarters and Support Battalion, in Brovary ** 25px 16th Information and Psychological Operations Center, in Huiva ** 25px 72nd Information and Psychological Operations Center, in Brovary ** 25px 142nd Training and Education Center, in Berdychiv

==Commanders == This table includes commanders of Northern Operational Command (1992–2005), Territorial Directorate "North" (2005–2013) and Operational Command North (2014–). ===Commanders ===

* Lieutenant General Valentyn Boryskin (1992 - 1996) * Colonel General Viktor Kolotov (1996 - 1998) * Colonel General Oleh Shustenko (2000 - 2005) * Colonel Yuriy Horolyuk (15 August 2005 - 2005)<ref name=":0" /> * Major General Serhiy Bessarab (2005 - 2007)<ref name=":0" /> * Major General Anatoliy Syrotenko (2007 - 2012)<ref name=":0" /> * Lieutenant General Ihor Kolesnyk (November 2013 - 2015) * Major General Oleksandr Lakota (2015 - February 2017)<ref>Holcomb, Franklin. [http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISW%20Ukrainian%20ORBAT%20Holcomb%202016_0.pdf The Order of Battle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827061638/http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISW%20Ukrainian%20ORBAT%20Holcomb%202016_0.pdf |date=2018-08-27 }}. Institute for the Study of War, Washington DC.</ref> * Lieutenant General Vyacheslav Nazarkin (February 2017 - 2017) * Lieutenant General Volodymyr Kravchenko (2017 - 5 August 2019) * Major General Vasyl Osypchuk (5 August 2019 - December 2019, acting)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-26 |title=Урочистості з нагоди Дня Захисника України в оперативному командуванні "Північ": нагородили кращих, вшанували полеглих » Новинний портал "Північ" Огляд військових новин, військово-політичних подій в Україні та світі, новини озброєння та технологій, оснащення та екіпірування |url=http://pivnich.org.ua/1043-urochistost-z-nagodi-dnya-zahisnika-ukrayini-v-operativnomu-komanduvann-pvnch-nagorod.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026232540/http://pivnich.org.ua/1043-urochistost-z-nagodi-dnya-zahisnika-ukrayini-v-operativnomu-komanduvann-pvnch-nagorod.html |archive-date=2019-10-26 }}</ref> * Lieutenant General Viktor Nikoliuk (December 2019 - March 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Командувачем військ оперативного командування «Північ» призначений генерал-майор Віктор Ніколюк |url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2021/10/04/komanduvachem-vijsk-operatyvnogo-komanduvannya-pivnich-pryznachenyj-general-major-viktor-nikolyuk/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=armyinform.com.ua |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-04 |title=Віктор Ніколюк призначений командувачем військ ОК «Північ» |url=https://www.ukrmilitary.com/2021/10/nikoluk.html |access-date=2023-11-12}}</ref> * Brigadier General Dmytro Krasylnykov (March 2023 - 12 March 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title=В ОК «Північ» змінився очільник. А генерал Ніколюк тепер командує підготовкою Сухопутних військ |url=https://hromadske.ua/posts/v-ok-pivnich-zminivsya-ochilnik-a-general-nikolyuk-teper-komanduye-pidgotovkoyu-suhoputnih-vijsk |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=hromadske.ua |language=uk}}</ref> * Brigadier General Oleksiy Shandar (12 March 2025 - present)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Командувач ОК Північ заявив про своє звільнення |url=https://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/4763195-komanduvach-ok-pivnich-zaiavyv-pro-svoie-zvilnennia |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=ua.korrespondent.net |language=ru}}</ref><ref>[https://hromadske.ua/posts/v-ok-pivnich-zminivsya-ochilnik-a-general-nikolyuk-teper-komanduye-pidgotovkoyu-suhoputnih-vijsk В ОК «Північ» змінився очільник. А генерал Ніколюк тепер командує підготовкою Сухопутних військ. 13.03.2023, 13:34] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313115857/https://hromadske.ua/posts/v-ok-pivnich-zminivsya-ochilnik-a-general-nikolyuk-teper-komanduye-pidgotovkoyu-suhoputnih-vijsk |date=2023-03-13 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://suspilne.media/chernihiv/968471-komanduvaca-ok-pivnic-dmitra-krasilnikova-zvilnili-z-posadi/ |title=Командувача ОК "Північ" Дмитра Красильникова звільнили з посади |last=Шапошніков |first=Денис |date=2025-03-12 |website=Суспільне {{!}} Новини |language=uk |access-date=2025-04-01 |archive-date=2025-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401165844/https://suspilne.media/chernihiv/968471-komanduvaca-ok-pivnic-dmitra-krasilnikova-zvilnili-z-posadi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Chiefs of staff - first deputy commanders ===

* Major General Volodymyr Kravchenko (2015 - 2017) * Major General Petro Romyhailo (2017 - present)

=== Deputy commanders ===

* Major General Andriy Hryshchenko (2015 - 2016) * Colonel Ihor Krasota (2016 - July 2018) * Major General Vasyl Osypchuk (July 2018 - August 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-20 |title=На Чернігівщині відбулися тактичні навчання з бойовою стрільбою (ФОТО) |url=https://uatv.ua/na-chernigivshhyni-vidbulysya-taktychni-navchannya-z-bojovoyu-strilboyu-foto/ |accessdate=2019-12-13 |website=UATV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-07 |title=Солдат і немовля: Порошенко виклав зворушливе фото із зустрічі 30-ї бригади в Новограді |url=https://novynarnia.com/2018/07/07/soldat-i-nemovlya-poroshenko-viklav-zvorushlive-foto-iz-zustrichi-30-yi-brigadi-v-novogradi/ |accessdate=2019-12-13 |website=Новинарня |language=uk}}</ref> * Major General Oleksiy Otserklevych (2020 - present)

==See also== * Kyiv Military District

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Operational Command North}} Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine Category:Military units and formations established in 1996 North Category:1996 establishments in Ukraine