Ukraine celebrates Land Forces Day: a branch of the armed forces that holds the frontline
Ukraine traditionally celebrates the Day of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces on 12 December. The holiday was established by a presidential decree in 1997 to honour the soldiers who form the backbone of the army's combat power.
The Land Forces include mechanised, tank and missile units, artillery, army aviation, air defence units, special forces and drone systems. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stressed that this particular type of troops is the frontline of defence. According to him, fortifications matter, but they are worthless without Ukrainian infantry.
Syrsky reminded that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it was the ground units that became the first shield on the outskirts of Kyiv. The infantry held back the enemy near the capital, participated in the Slobozhanska offensive, liberated the right-bank Kherson region, destroyed the Wagner group in Bakhmut and defeated Russian forces in Kursk region.
On this day, we also publish a selection of photos taken by the military themselves throughout the year, showing the daily reality of those who fight in the most difficult conditions and directly face the enemy. The Army remains the key pillar of Ukraine's defence and the main force on the battlefield.
