Since the beginning of 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has developed and approved 110 new sleeve insignias for its military units.
According to reports from Ukrinform, this initiative comes from the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry is dedicated to creating military symbolism, which serves not only as an external identification during wartime but also helps shape the identity of units and boosts morale.
The development of this area is overseen by the department of military symbolism and heraldry within the Central Material Support Administration (CMSA).
“This department is where the main elements of military unit symbolism, namely sleeve insignias, are created. These are unique modern images of the Ukrainian army, combining historical traditions, regional characteristics, and the nature of the units’ tasks,” said Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Kayiola.
Military units, military management bodies, educational institutions, and organizations within the Ministry of Defense have the right to create their own insignias.
The Ministry noted that both modern and traditional elements are used in the creation of insignias. They must adhere to a unified artistic style considering the traditions and heritage of the Ukrainian military, the local context of the military formation, and other factors. Additionally, a common color scheme appropriate for the corresponding branch of the armed forces must be utilized.
A team of professional historians and artists is working on the unit's symbolism.
The agreed sketch of the insignia undergoes an examination by an expert council composed of leading historians, artists, and technologists from Ukraine.
Only after this, the insignia is approved, depending on the hierarchy, by the Minister of Defense or the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Between January and June 2025, 110 insignias passed the examination and were approved.
Examples of these insignias demonstrate deep conceptual and symbolic significance.
For instance, the insignia of the 153rd Separate Mechanized Brigade embodies symbolism through references to the historical chronicles of the “Tale of Bygone Years,” describing the legendary campaign of Prince Oleg of Kyiv to Constantinople, during which Oleg commanded his warriors to construct wheels and place ships on them.
The symbolism of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Anna of Kyiv reflects both its honorary title and its formation on French lands.
The symbolism of the 19th Army Corps, formed in the former territories of the Black Sea Cossack Army, incorporates symbols from their first flag, which, according to memories, was preserved during the destruction of the Sich.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that in the current context of full-scale war, military symbolism has become an integral part of the nation’s informational, ideological, and moral defense.