Government, Defense

Ukraine’s armed forces are the second largest in Europe, after those of Russia, with an estimated strength of 303,800 in 2001. In addition to central staff, nuclear forces, and paramilitary troops, about 151,200 are in the ground forces, about 96,000 are in the air force, and about 13,000 are in the navy (excluding the Black Sea Fleet). Military service is compulsory for all males 18 and older; those with higher education serve 12 months, and those without it serve 18 months.

Because Ukraine is committed to a policy of nonalignment, it does not subscribe to the treaty on collective security of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), nor does it desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, Ukraine’s armed forces do cooperate with the latter through the Partnership for Peace program. In November 1994 Ukraine signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which brought it under the terms of the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I). This required Ukraine to liquidate its large nuclear arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a project that was completed in 1995.