Ukraine Shifts to Corps-Based Military Structure to Improve Coordination and NATO Alignment

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have begun implementing a transition to a corps-based command and control structure, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced in a statement on facebook on February 3.

Syrskyi stated that efforts to strengthen the Ground Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, Marine Corps, and Unmanned Systems Forces are ongoing, with an increased deployment of unmanned systems.

Before the transition to a corps-based structure, Ukraine’s military operated under a brigade-based system, where brigades functioned as independent units under the control of Operational Commands. This structure was adopted after the disbandment of Army Corps in 2015, when the military shifted to a more decentralized command system.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the need for greater coordination led to Syrskyi’s decision to restore army corps, with the reintroduction of a corps-based structure aiming to improve operational control, integrate larger formations, and align with NATO standards. The transition is also intended to enhance command efficiency and optimize force deployment.

As part of these efforts, Syrskyi reported an increase in the number of units rotated out for combat recovery in January, with additional rotations planned. The restructuring comes amid ongoing discussions on mobilization, as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to sustain its forces.

The US, under both the former Biden administration and the current Trump administration, has pushed for Ukraine to lower its mobilization age to 18. The proposal, raised in November 2024, was met with resistance from Ukraine.