The date was chosen in memory of military correspondent Dmytro Labutkin, who died on this day during hostilities in eastern…
Throughout 2025, Ukraine’s defense ministry, together with international partners and domestic educational institutions, implemented a set of measures to build up the personnel potential of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and unmanned systems units.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine released this information on January 2.
According to Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Aviation Capability Development Oleksandr Kozenko, thanks to agreements within the Air Force Coalition, the training of several groups of Ukrainian pilots was completed, who mastered modern foreign-made aviation platforms.
Training programs were adapted to the experience of real combat operations and NATO interoperability standards.
In addition to flight crews, the following specialists were trained abroad:
- engineering and technical service specialists ensuring the operational readiness of advanced aviation equipment;
- ground personnel in airfield support and logistics;
- a group of special equipment operators for working with high-tech monitoring and reconnaissance systems.
A key achievement of 2025 was the deployment of a network of certified training centers in Ukraine. This became possible thanks to the successful implementation of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 1129 of October 1, 2024, which introduced an experimental project for certifying unmanned systems operator schools.
Eight leading training organizations received certified status, and the total number of institutions authorized to train specialists reached 34 (including 19 UAV-focused centers).
Thanks to the involvement of private and state instructor schools, more than 5,000 operators of unmanned aerial vehicle systems were trained in 2025.
At the same time, the domestic system also trained nearly one hundred cadet pilots, who will form the foundation of the renewed Air Force in the future.
Based on the results of tests and qualification exams, 437 state-issued certificates were awarded to aviation personnel, confirming compliance with the highest professional standards.
“Systematic training of people is the foundation of our advantage in the air. We are not only integrating Western equipment, but also creating our own autonomous training ecosystem capable of promptly supplying the front with qualified personnel — from fighter pilots to FPV drone operators”, — Oleksandr Kozenko emphasized.
Ukraine continues to expand cooperation with partners, ensuring a continuous cycle to strengthen the capabilities of the aviation component.
