Operational Command West

{{refimprove|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Operational Command West | native_name = Оперативне командування «Захід» | image = ОК Захід к.svg | image_size = 200px | caption = Operational Command West Shoulder sleeve insignia (2020-) | dates = 1998–present | country = {{UKR}} | branch ={{army|Ukraine}} | type = Military district | command_structure = {{military|Ukraine}} | garrison = Rivne | garrison_label = Headquarters | battles = | anniversaries = | decorations = | battle_honours =  | commander1 = Brigadier General Volodymyr Shvediuk | commander1_label = | start_date = 1998 | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | website = }}

The '''Operational Command West''' ({{abbr.}} '''OC West''', {{langx|uk|Оперативне командування «Захід»; ОК «Захід»}}) is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in western Ukraine. Its headquarters is located in Rivne.

== History == When Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union, there were three Military Districts on its territory. These were the Kyiv, Odessa and Carpathian Military Districts. In 1998, the Western Operational Command was created from the Carpathian Military District.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kuzmuk|first=O.I.|year=2011|title=Еволюція структури Збройних Сил України (1991-2011 рр.)|trans-title=Evolution of the Structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (1991–2011)|url=http://www.asv.gov.ua/content/nauka/editions/16/2011-16/47-63.pdf|journal=Viysʹkovo-naukovyy visnyk [Military-Scientific Bulletin]|issue=16|pages=55}}</ref>

thumb|right|Map of the Operational Command West shown in dark green

By 1 July 2006, the Western Operational Command consisted of units directly subordinated to the command and to the 13th Army Corps. These units were: * 7th Army Aviation Regiment * 11th Artillery Brigade * 15th Rocket Artillery Regiment * 14th Mechanized Brigade * 24th Mechanized Brigade * 55th Communications Regiment * 80th Airmobile Regiment * 146th Reconnaissance and Command Center * 59th Artillery Regiment * 128th Mountain Infantry Brigade * 703rd Engineering Regiment * 704th Chemical Defense Regiment In October 2013, Operational Command North was created in Rivne. The Western Operational Command's headquarters was moved to Lviv and disbanded in August 2015. In November 2013, the 80th Airmobile Regiment was upgraded to brigade strength.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 80-й окремий аеромобільний полк – desant-ukrain|url = https://sites.google.com/site/desantukrain/home/80-j-okremij-aeromobilnij-polk/80-jokremijaeromobilnijpolk|website = desantukrain|access-date = 2016-01-29|language = uk|trans-title = 80th Separate Airmobile Regiment}}</ref> From the beginning of 2015, Operational Command North was moved to Chernihiv. Operational Command West headquarters remained in Rivne.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ukrainian Military Pages: Сухопутні війська|url = http://www.ukrmilitary.com/p/ukrainian-ground-forces.html|website = www.ukrmilitary.com|access-date = 2016-01-29}}</ref> Major General Ihor Dovhan led the command from 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Commander of Operational Command "West" checked prepare one of the teams in Lviv and awarded soldiers|url = http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2015/12/06/komanduvach-operativnogo-komanduvannya-zahid%25E2%2580%259D-pereviriv-pidgotovku-odniei-z-brigad-na-lvivshhini-ta-nagorodiv-vijskovosluzhbovcziv--/|website = Ukrainian Ministry of Defense|access-date = 2016-01-29}}</ref>

In October 2015, the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade was formed in the command.<ref>{{Cite web|title = В Україні сформували нову гірсько-штурмову бригаду ЗСУ – Новини – Український тиждень, Тиждень.ua|url = http://tyzhden.ua/News/155893|website = tyzhden.ua| date=13 January 2016 |access-date = 2016-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = У Коломиї створили нову 10 гірсько-штурмову бригаду {{!}} 10 гірсько-штурмова бригада|url = http://10brygada.com.ua/news/u-kolomiyi-stvorili-novu-10-girsko-shturmovu-brigadu|website = 10brygada.com.ua|access-date = 2016-01-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160131111218/http://10brygada.com.ua/news/u-kolomiyi-stvorili-novu-10-girsko-shturmovu-brigadu|archive-date = 2016-01-31|url-status = dead}}</ref> During late January and early February 2016, units of Operational Command West participated in joint training exercises with British instructors in Rivne. <ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2016/02/02/na-rivnenshhini-zakinchivsya-kurs-pidgotovki-ukrainskih-pidrozdiliv-za-uchastyu-instruktoriv-zbrojnih-sil-velikoi-britanii--/|title = На Рівненщині закінчився курс підготовки українських підрозділів за участю інструкторів Збройних Сил Великої Британії|date = 2 February 2016|work = mil.gov.ua|access-date = 9 February 2016|language = uk|trans-title = In Rivne ended training course with the participation of Ukrainian units of the Armed Forces instructors UK|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160209092345/http://www.mil.gov.ua/news/2016/02/02/na-rivnenshhini-zakinchivsya-kurs-pidgotovki-ukrainskih-pidrozdiliv-za-uchastyu-instruktoriv-zbrojnih-sil-velikoi-britanii--/|archive-date = 9 February 2016}}</ref> On 5 February, the command was assigned responsibility for Ground Forces troops in Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi Oblasts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/39/2016/paran10#n10|title=Військово-адміністративний поділ території України|date=5 February 2016|website=Verkhovna Rada|series=Decree No. 39/2016|language=uk|trans-title=Military Administrative Divisions of Ukraine|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> As of December of that year, it included the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, 128th Separate Mountain Brigade, and 44th Separate Artillery Brigade.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Holcomb|first=Franklin|date=December 2016|title=The Order of Battle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: A Key Component in European Security|url=http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISW%20Ukrainian%20ORBAT%20Holcomb%202016_0.pdf|publisher=Institute for the Study of War|page=12|archive-date=2018-08-27|access-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827061638/http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISW%20Ukrainian%20ORBAT%20Holcomb%202016_0.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2017, Major General Oleksandr Pavlyuk became commander of OC West after Dovhan was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces for Combat Training.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://radiotrek.rv.ua/news/u_rivnomu_predstavyly_novogo_kerivnyka_ok_zahid_214214.html|title=У Рівному представили нового керівника ОК «Захід»|date=22 March 2017|work=Radio Trek|access-date=6 November 2017|language=uk|trans-title=New commander of OC West introduced in Rivne}}</ref>

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

Operational Command West has operational command of ground force units in Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi oblasts.

* 25px '''Operational Command West''', in Rivne ** 25px '''3rd Tank Brigade''', in Yarmolyntsi ** 25px '''10th Mountain Assault Brigade''', in Kolomyia ** 25px '''13th Jaeger Brigade''', in Rivne ** 25px '''14th Mechanized Brigade''', in Volodymyr ** 25px '''22nd Mechanized Brigade''', in Chernivtsi ** 25px '''24th Mechanized Brigade''', in Yavoriv ** 25px '''33rd Mechanized Brigade''', in Rivne ** 25px '''42nd Mechanized Brigade''', in Chortkiv ** 25px '''63rd Mechanized Brigade''', in Starokostyantyniv ** 25px '''65th Mechanized Brigade''', in Starychi ** 25px '''68th Jaeger Brigade''', in Uzhhorod ** 25px '''88th Mechanized Brigade''', in Rivne ** 25px '''128th Mountain Assault Brigade''', in Mukachevo ** 25px '''44th Artillery Brigade''', in Ternopil ** 25px 45th Artillery Brigade, in Yavoriv ** 25px 39th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in Volodymyr ** 25px 55th Signal Regiment, in Rivne ** 146th Maintenance Regiment, in Zolochiv ** 25px 703rd Support Brigade, in Sambir ** 25px 35th Rifle Battalion, in Ternopil ** 25px 36th Rifle Battalion, in Khmelnytskyi ** 25px 52nd Rifle Battalion, in Ivano-Frankivsk ** 53rd Rifle Battalion ** 25px 130th Reconnaissance Battalion, in Dubno ** 182nd Materiel Support Battalion, in Berezhany ** 224th Transport Battalion, in Shepetivka ** 394th Guard & Service Battalion, in Rivne ** 146th Command & Intelligence Center, in Rivne ** Regional Radioelectronic Intelligence (REI) Center, in Brody *** 71st Maneuverable REI Center, in Kovel *** 84th REI Center, in Vynohradiv *** 99th REI Center, in Serebriya ** 201st Electronic Warfare Company, in Rivne ** 233rd Joint Training Range, in Mala Lyubash

=== 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 West and can be assigned to the command as needed:

* '''Ground Forces''': ** 25px 12th Army Aviation Brigade, in Novyi Kalyniv ** 25px 15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, in Drogobych ** 25px 16th Army Aviation Brigade, in Brody ** 25px 19th Missile Brigade, in Khmelnytskyi ** 25px 47th Engineer Brigade, in Dubno ** 25px 48th Engineer Brigade, in Kamianets-Podilskyi ** 25px 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, in Ternopil ** 25px 704th CBRN Protection Brigade, in Sambir

* '''Air Assault Forces''': ** 25px 80th Air Assault Brigade, in Lviv ** 25px 82nd Air Assault Brigade, in Chernivtsi

* '''Air Force''': ** 25px 1st Radio Technical Brigade, in Lipniki ** 25px 11th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in Shepetivka ** 25px 76th Communication Regiment, in Lipniki ** 25px 223rd Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in Stryi ** 25px 540th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment, in Kamianka-Buzka ** 17th Electronic Warfare Battalion, in Kolomyia ** 352nd Airfield Engineer Battalion, in Khmelnytskyi

* '''Special Operations Forces''': ** 25px Special Operations Center West, in Khmelnytskyi (former 8th Special Forces Regiment) ** 25px 140th Special Forces Center, in Khmelnytskyi ** 25px 74th Information and Psychological Operations Center, in Lviv

== Commanders == * Colonel General Serhiy Chernilevsky (1998–1999) * Colonel General Mykola Petruk (2003–2004) * Lieutenant General Mykhailo Kutsyn (2004–2010) * Lieutenant General Yuriy Dumansky (26 April 2010 – 10 May 2012)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Новим командувачем ЗахОК призначено Юрія Думанського |url=http://zik.ua/ua/news/2010/04/26/226318 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061041/http://zik.ua/ua/news/2010/04/26/226318 |archive-date=2013-10-23 |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=zik.ua}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Керівництво Збройних Сил України |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=command&sub=Dymanskiy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519153429/http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=command&sub=Dymanskiy |archive-date=2014-05-19 |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Міністерство оборони України}}</ref> * Major General Viktor Hanushchak (10 May 2012 - 29 October 2013; acting) * Major General Ihor Dovhan (May 2015 – March 2017)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-05 |title=Військових західних областей об'єднають під оперативним командуванням «Захід» |url=https://press-centr.com/ua/news/Viyskovikh-zakhidnikh-oblastey-obdnayut-pid-operativnim-komanduvannyam-Zakhid |access-date=2024-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070257/https://press-centr.com/ua/news/Viyskovikh-zakhidnikh-oblastey-obdnayut-pid-operativnim-komanduvannyam-Zakhid |archive-date=2016-03-05 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=У Рівному представили нового керівника ОК «Захід» |url=http://radiotrek.rv.ua/news/u_rivnomu_predstavyly_novogo_kerivnyka_ok_zahid_214214.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324191645/http://radiotrek.rv.ua/news/u_rivnomu_predstavyly_novogo_kerivnyka_ok_zahid_214214.html |archive-date=2017-03-24 |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=Радіо ТРЕК}}</ref> * Major General Oleksandr Pavlyuk (March 2017 – April 2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=У Рівному представили нового керівника ОК «Захід» |url=http://radiotrek.rv.ua/news/u_rivnomu_predstavyly_novogo_kerivnyka_ok_zahid_214214.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324191645/http://radiotrek.rv.ua/news/u_rivnomu_predstavyly_novogo_kerivnyka_ok_zahid_214214.html |archive-date=2017-03-24 |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=Радіо ТРЕК}}</ref> * Major General Serhiy Shaptala (April 2020 - August 2021)<ref>[http://armyinform.com.ua/2020/04/komanduvachem-vijsk-ok-zahid-pryznacheno-geroya-ukrayiny-general-majora-sergiya-shaptalu/ Командувачем військ ОК «Захід» призначено Героя України генерал-майора Сергія Шапталу]</ref> * Major General Serhiy Litvinov (August 2021 - April 2024) * Brigadier General Volodymyr Shvediuk (April 2024 - )

===Chiefs of staff===

* Major General Viktor Hanushchak (December 2009 - 10 May 2012)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Національная гвардія України України |url=http://vv.gov.ua/personalpage.php?lang=ua&mid=27&pid=23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817183250/http://vv.gov.ua/personalpage.php?lang=ua&mid=27&pid=23 |archive-date=2014-08-17 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=vv.gov.ua}}</ref> * Major General Valerii Zaluzhnyi (2017) * Major General Volodymyr Myronyuk (2019) * Colonel Oleksandr Seletsky (2019 — 2020, acting)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Пошук контрактників: У Хмельницькому військові комісари ОК "Захід" мінялися досвідом – Depo.ua|url=https://khm.depo.ua/ukr/khm/poshuk-kontraktnikiv-u-khmelnitskomu-viysovi-komasari-ok-zakhid-minyalisya-dosvidom-201909121027017|website=www.depo.ua|accessdate=2019-12-08|language=uk|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208094113/https://khm.depo.ua/ukr/khm/poshuk-kontraktnikiv-u-khmelnitskomu-viysovi-komasari-ok-zakhid-minyalisya-dosvidom-201909121027017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Освіта Рівненщини|url=http://rivneosvita.org.ua/infotsentr/index.php/36146/|website=rivneosvita.org.ua|accessdate=2019-12-08|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208094121/http://rivneosvita.org.ua/infotsentr/index.php/36146/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Deputy Commanders===

* Major General Oleh Mikats (March 2017 - 9 August 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cimic.com.ua/news/2017/03/30/11132 |title=Вітаємо генерал-майора Олега Мікаца з призначенням на вищу посаду! |accessdate=4 April 2017 |archive-date=5 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405085044/https://cimic.com.ua/news/2017/03/30/11132 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Олег Мікац: «Людина – це найголовніше, що є на війні»|url=https://armyinform.com.ua/2020/10/lyudyna-cze-najgolovnishe-shho-ye-na-vijni/|website=armyinform.com.ua|accessdate=2021-03-22|language=uk}}</ref>

== References == <references />

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160109234411/http://xn--13-8kc6atx1i.com.ua/ Official website]

Category:Military units and formations established in 1998 Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine West Category:1998 establishments in Ukraine