Most volunteers choose Ground Forces or Territorial Defense
In October 2024, commanders of Ukrainian military units received the right to mobilize volunteers independently. Ukrainian Military Pages analyzed which branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are most frequently chosen by those who join voluntarily.
It is important to note that this analysis refers exclusively to individuals mobilized through voluntary applications to unit commanders, excluding those who signed standard military contracts.
Unsurprisingly, the Ground Forces remain the top choice. As the largest branch of the Armed Forces, they offer a wide spectrum of specialties and host many well-known, prestigious units, including assault and unmanned units with strong reputations and rich traditions.
Among specialized branches, the Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) are the most attractive for volunteers. The Unmanned Systems Forces come next — attracting 60% fewer recruits than the TDF.
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) have six times fewer volunteers than the TDF, and the Air Assault Forces (AAF) ten times fewer. This reflects stricter entry requirements for the SOF and AAF compared to TDF or Unmanned Systems Forces.
