{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Operational Command South | native_name = Оперативне командування «Південь» | image = ОК Південь к.svg | image_size = 150 | caption = | dates = January 1998–present | country = {{UKR}} | branch = {{Army|Ukraine}} |allegiance = {{military|Ukraine}} | role = Combined | type = Military district | command_structure = 25px Command of the Ground Forces | garrison = Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Oblast | garrison_label = Headquarters | battles = | anniversaries = | decorations = | battle_honours = <!-- Commanders --> | commander1 = Major general Mykhailo Sydorenko | commander1_label = | start_date = January 1998 | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | website = [https://www.facebook.com/OperationalCommandSouth/ Official facebook site] }} The '''Operational Command South''' ({{abbr.}} '''OC South''', {{langx|uk|Оперативне командування "Південь", ОК "Південь"}}) is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the southern part of Ukraine, which was formed in January 1998 as the '''Southern Operation Command''' on the basis of the Odesa Military District and was headquartered in Odesa. From 2005-2013 it was known as the '''Southern Operation Association'''.
In January 2007 RIA Novosti reported that destruction of ammunition would take place at the ''275th artillery ammunition base'' near the village of Novobohdanivka, Zaporizhzhia region.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ria.ru/20070102/58308948.html | title=В январе на Украине в Новобогдановке начнется утилизация боеприпасов | date=2 January 2007 }}</ref>
Until 2015 Operational Command South covered 9 oblasts and autonomous republics: Odesa, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk oblasts and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In 2015 eastern parts of the operation command territory were passed on to newly formed Operation Command East based in Dnipro. The headquarters of the OC South was relocated from Odesa to Mykolaiv.
==Composition== thumb|right|Map of the Operational Command South shown in dark green
By 1 July 2006, the Southern Operational Command included 6th Army Corps (6 AK) and other units comprising: * 17th Armoured Brigade (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) * 28th Guards Mechanised Brigade (Chornomorske, Odesa Oblast) reorganized as 28th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in 2015. * 92nd Mechanised Brigade Kluhoshyno-Bashkyrivka, Chuhuiv Raion, Kharkiv Oblast * 93rd Mechanised Brigade. Cherkaske Novomoskovsk Raion Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. * 55th Artillery Brigade (Zaporizhzhia) * 107th Rocket Launcher Regiment (Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast) * 25th Airborne Brigade Hvardiiske Dnipropetrovsk Oblast * 79th Airmobile Brigade (Mykolaiv) * 11th Army Aviation Regiment (Chornobaivka, Kherson Oblast) * 1039th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment (Hvardiiske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) * 3rd special purpose Regiment. Kropyvnytskyi * 50 Academic squad of special training. Kropyvnytskyi
Exercises that command units have taken part in include "Autumn-98", "reaction", "Southern redoubt-99", "Redoubt-2000", including peacekeeping – series of "Peace Shield", "Cossack Steppe," "common neighborhood", "Sea Breeze", "Fairway of Peace," "South," "cooperative partner" joint exercises with units of the armed forces of France and Italy.<ref>[http://oblrada.odessa.gov.ua/Main.aspx?sect=Page&IDPage=22206&id=462 70th anniversary of the Southern Operational Command]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Structure == thumb|right|500px|Structure of the Operational Command South in 2017 as per the best available Ukrainian language sources.
Operational Command South has operational staffs in Vinnytsia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, and Kherson oblasts. {{tree list}} * 35px '''Operational Command South''', ({{MUN}}A2393) ** 25px 5th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, Kryvyi Rih, A4594 ** 25px 7th Signal Regiment, Odesa, А3783 ** 25px 11th Army Aviation Brigade (was based in Kherson) ** 25px 16th Support Regiment, {{ill|Semenivka (Zaporizhzhia Oblast)|lt=Semenivka|uk|Семенівка (Мелітопольський район)}}, А2558 ** 25px 21st Mechanized Brigade, Odesa, A4689 ** 25px 22nd Mechanized Brigade, Mykhailivka, A4718 ** 25px 28th Mechanized Brigade, Chornomorske, А0666 ** 25px 31st Repair and Restoration Regiment, Podilsk, А1536 ** 25px 38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, Nova Odesa A3880 ** 25px 40th Artillery brigade, Pervomaisk, A2227 ** 25px 41st Mechanized Brigade, Odesa, A4576 ** 25px 48th Separate Assault Battalion, Mykolaiv, A4945 ** 25px 56th Motorized Brigade, was based in Mariupol, А0989 ** 25px 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade, Kropyvnytskyi, А1736 ** 25px 59th Motorized Brigade, Haisyn, A1619 ** 25px 60th Mechanized Brigade A1962 ** 25px 61st Mechanized Jäger Brigade, Zhytomyr A3425 ** 91st Command & Intelligence Center, Krasnosilka A2152 ** 25px 131st Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, Hushchyntsi, А1445 ** 143rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, Mykolaiv Oblast ** 25px 144th Infantry Brigade, A4828 ** 25px 145th Maintenance Regiment, Mykolaiv, А1080 ** 25px 154th Mechanized Brigade A4962 ** 25px 159th Infantry Brigade, Mykolaiv Oblast ** 25px 183rd Separate Material Support Battalion, Balta, A1559 ** 225th Separate Transport Battalion, Balta, А3269 ** 363rd Guard & Service Battalion, Odesa, A1785 ** 25px Radioelectronic Intelligence Center "South", Krasnosilka A3438 *** 78th REI Center, Balta A2395 *** 79th REI Center, Reni A2412 *** 82nd Maneuverable REI Center, Krasnosilka A2444 ** 23rd Electronic Warfare {{tree list/end}}
=== 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 South and can be assigned to the command as needed: {{tree list}} * '''Support Forces''': ** 25px 70th Support Brigade, in Bar ** 25px 808th Support Brigade, in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi * '''Air Assault Forces''': ** 25px 79th Air Assault Brigade, in Mykolaiv ** 25px 81st Airmobile Brigade, in Druzhkivka * '''Marine Corps''': ** 25px 35th Marine Brigade, in Dachne ** 25px 36th Marine Brigade, in Mykolaiv ** 25px 37th Marine Brigade, in ** 25px 38th Marine Brigade, in ** 25px 124th Territorial Defence Brigade "Kherson" ** 25px 126th Territorial Defence Brigade "Odesa City" ** 25px 406th Marine Artillery Brigade, in Mykolaiv ** 25px 32nd Marine Artillery Brigade, in Altestove ** 25px 140th Force Reconnaissance Battalion * '''Air Force''': ** 25px 14th Radio Technical Brigade, in Odesa ** 19th Special Purpose Radio Intercept Brigade, in Halytsynov ** 25px 160th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, in Odesa ** 25px 208th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade, in Kherson ** 25px 201st Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade, in Pervomaisk ** 25px 43rd Communication Regiment, in Odesa ** 25px 101st Communication Regiment, in Vinnytsia ** 182nd Communication Regiment ** 28th Airfield Engineer Battalion, in Mykolaiv ** 25px 1194th Electronic Warfare Battalion, in Pervomaisk * '''Special Operations Forces''': ** 25px Special Operations Center East, in Kropyvnytskyi (former 3rd Special Forces Regiment) ** 25px 73rd Naval Special Operations Center South, in Ochakiv ** 25px 83rd Information and Psychological Operations Center, in Odesa * '''Territorial Defense Forces''' ** 25px 120th Territorial Defence Brigade "Vinnytsia" ** 25px 121st Territorial Defence Brigade "Kirovohrad" ** 25px 122nd Territorial Defence Brigade "Odesa" ** 25px 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade "Mykolaiv" ** 1st Infantry Battalion "Vinnytsia" ** 9th Infantry Battalion "Kirovohrad" ** 12th Infantry Battalion "Odesa" ** 11th Infantry Battalion "Mykolaiv" ** 18th Infantry Battalion "Kherson" {{tree list/end}}
== Leaders == Colonel General Volodymyr Shkidchenko commanded the Odesa Military District from December 1993 until it became the Southern Operational Command in February 1998.
===Commanders=== * General of the Army Vitaliy Radetsky (1992 - 1993) * General of the Army Volodymyr Shkidchenko (1993 - 30 September 1998) * Colonel General Oleksandr Zatynaiko (30 September 1998 - 19 December 2001) * Colonel General Volodymyr Mozharovsky (19 December 2001 - November 2003) * Colonel General Hryhoriy Pedchenko (November 2003 - 11 July 2005) * Colonel General Ivan Svyda (11 July 2005 - 25 June 2007) * Lieutenant General Petro Lytvyn (25 June 2007 - 2 May 2012) * Major General Ihor Fedorov (2 May 2012 - 2 July 2012) * Lieutenant General Anatoliy Syrotenko (2 July 2012 - 11 April 2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=В Одессе сменилось руководство Южного оперативного командования. Вместо Литвина – начальник академии | Новости Одессы |url=http://dumskaya.net/news/v-odesse-smenilos-rukovodstvo-yugnogo-operativno-020440/}}</ref> * Major General Andriy Hryshchenko (11 April 2016 - 16 November 2017)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-13 |title=Генерал армії України Степан Полторак в Одесі представив нового командувача військ оперативного командування «Південь» Сухопутних військ ЗС України {{!}} Міністерство оборони України |url=https://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2016/04/11/general-armii-ukraini-stepan-poltorak-v-odesi-predstaviv-novogo-komanduvacha-vijsk-operativnogo-komanduvannya-pivden-suhoputnih-vijsk-zs-ukraini--19170/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413210612/https://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2016/04/11/general-armii-ukraini-stepan-poltorak-v-odesi-predstaviv-novogo-komanduvacha-vijsk-operativnogo-komanduvannya-pivden-suhoputnih-vijsk-zs-ukraini--19170/ |archive-date=13 April 2016 }}</ref> * Major Genera Oleh Vyshnivsky (16 November 2017 - 6 July 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-16 |title=В Одесі військовослужбовцям представлено нового командувача військ оперативного командування "Південь" Сухопутних військ ЗС України {{!}} Міністерство оборони України |url=https://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2017/11/16/v-odesi-vijskovosluzhbovczyam-predstavleno-novogo-komanduvacha-vijsk-operativnogo-komanduvannya-pivden-suhoputnih-vijsk-zs-ukraini/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116181309/https://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2017/11/16/v-odesi-vijskovosluzhbovczyam-predstavleno-novogo-komanduvacha-vijsk-operativnogo-komanduvannya-pivden-suhoputnih-vijsk-zs-ukraini/ |archive-date=16 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-06 |title=Командувачем сил логістики Збройних сил України призначено генерал-лейтенанта Вишнівського - новини політики {{!}} УНІАН |url=https://www.unian.ua/politics/10608627-komanduvachem-sil-logistiki-zbroynih-sil-ukrajini-priznacheno-general-leytenanta-vishnivskogo.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706141848/https://www.unian.ua/politics/10608627-komanduvachem-sil-logistiki-zbroynih-sil-ukrajini-priznacheno-general-leytenanta-vishnivskogo.html |archive-date=6 July 2019 }}</ref> * Major General Ihor Palahnyuk (6 July 2019 - 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Командувачем сил логістики Збройних сил України призначено генерал-лейтенанта Вишнівського |url=https://www.unian.ua/politics/10608627-komanduvachem-sil-logistiki-zbroynih-sil-ukrajini-priznacheno-general-leytenanta-vishnivskogo.html |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.unian.ua |language=uk}}</ref> * Major General Andrii Kovalchuk (9 October 2021 – 16 April 2024) * Brigadier General Hennadii Shapovalov (16 April 2024 – 4 February 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine's Southern Operational Command chief steps down after being appointed NATO liaisonя |url=https://kyivindependent.com/shapovalov-steps-down/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en }}</ref> * Major General Mykhailo Sydorenko (2025 - present)
=== Chiefs of staff - first deputy commanders ===
* Major General Serhiy Shaptala (2017 - October 2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Шаптала Сергій Олександрович |url=http://www.ukrgeroes.com.ua/ShaptalaSO.html |accessdate=2019-12-08 |website=www.ukrgeroes.com.ua}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=В Николаеве военкомов и врачей медкомиссий 5 областей учили порядку на призывных пунктах |url=http://up.mk.ua/mainpage/show_item/25339 |accessdate=2019-12-08 |website=up.mk.ua}}</ref>
=== Deputy commanders ===
* Major General Andriy Sokolov (2017–present)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-14 |title=День Захисника України: що варто знати про сучасних генералів Збройних сил України |url=https://uprom.info/news/other/den-zahysnyka-ukrayiny-shho-varto-znaty-pro-suchasnyh-generaliv-zbrojnyh-syl-ukrayiny/ |accessdate=2019-12-15 |language=uk |archive-date=12 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112233939/https://uprom.info/news/other/den-zahysnyka-ukrayiny-shho-varto-znaty-pro-suchasnyh-generaliv-zbrojnyh-syl-ukrayiny/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== <references/>
==External links == * [http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=structure&sub=sv Land Forces of Ukraine] * [https://archive.today/20121222072627/http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/print_news.php?id=16343&lang=ua Southern Operational Command]
{{Ukrainian Ground Forces}}
{{coord missing|Ukraine}}
Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine Category:Military units and formations established in 1998 South Category:1998 establishments in Ukraine