July 29: Ukraine celebrates Special Operations Forces Day

History

This day was established in Ukraine "For the further development of national military traditions, taking into account the important role of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in ensuring the state's defense capability," in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On the Day of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," dated July 26, 2016, No. 311/2016.

The Special Operations Forces (SSO) are a separate branch that includes units for informational and psychological operations and special purpose units. These units are staffed by specially trained specialists with capabilities in intelligence, direct action, and military support for complex, dangerous, and sometimes politically sensitive operations.

Typical tasks of the SSO include:

• Raids and modern warfare
• Gathering intelligence from the front line
• Psychological operations (Psy-Ops)
• Creating agency networks
• Operating "civilian administrations" to gather support from local populations
• Searching for, evacuating, and rescuing prisoners and hostages
• Medical aid
• Training foreign armies, police, and security forces (force multiplication)
• Infiltrating special services and military organizations for espionage or eliminating threats (even in other countries)
• Detecting, identifying, and targeting threats for destruction
• Conducting anti-terrorist operations