CBRN Corps of Ukraine

The CBRN Corps of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Війська радіаційного, хімічного та біологічного захисту, RKhB Corps) is the radiation, chemical and biological defence branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, subordinate to the Support Forces Command. It is a state military formation rather than a commercial enterprise, but it functions as an institutional brand within Ukraine's defence sector, with its own command, training institutions, equipment inventory and public identity. Its central administration is located in Kyiv. The corps traces its origins to the chemical defence units of the Soviet Armed Forces stationed in Ukraine. Following Ukraine's independence in 1991, it was established on 15 September 1992. On 14 February 1994, by order of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, it was renamed from the Chemical Troops to the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops (RKhB Defence Troops), and that date became its commemorative day. Its missions include collecting and analysing CBRN situation data, CBRN reconnaissance, radiation dosimetry and chemical monitoring, decontamination, aerosol defence, and attacks with thermobaric munitions and flamethrowers. The corps has seen operational service in Kuwait in 2003, in the disposal of 16,339 tonnes of Soviet-era melange rocket fuel oxidiser between 2009 and 2013, and in the Russo-Ukrainian War since 2014, where it has combined CBRN defence duties with combat operations in defence of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Structurally, the corps includes the Central RKhB Defence Administration (A0108, Kyiv), the 105th Calculation and Analysis Station (A0108, Kyiv), the 14th Separate RKhB Defence Battalion, the 704th Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Regiment (A0807, Sambir), the 536th Central Repair and Storage Base (A0312, Poltava Oblast), RKhB defence departments, battalions, companies and platoons within the various service branches, calculation and analysis centres and stations, and RKhB defence training units within military educational institutions. Its equipment includes smoke-generating devices such as the TDA-2M and TDA-M, heavy flamethrower systems including captured TOS-1A units, chemical reconnaissance vehicles such as the BRDM-2RKhB, BRDM-2RKh, RKhM-4 and RKhM Kashalot, flamethrowers including the RPO Shmel, RPO-16, RPO Rys and captured PDM-A, and the ARS-14 automatic filling station. Training is provided in part by the Faculty of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection and Environmental Safety at the Military Tank Institute of Kharkiv Polytechnic University. During the Russo-Ukrainian War, the corps has been publicly highlighted by Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief and Minister of Defence, and its units have been featured in Ukrainian military media such as ArmyInform, including reports on chemical threats on the frontline, the use of FPV drones with thermobaric munitions by the 704th Brigade, and German ZODIAC equipment in Ukrainian CBRN protection service.

The CBRN Corps of Ukraine was established on 15 September 1992, following Ukraine's independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union, on the basis of the chemical defence units of the Soviet Armed Forces. On 14 February 1994, by order of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, it was renamed from the Chemical Troops to the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops (RKhB Defence Troops), and that date was designated as its commemorative day. In 2003, the corps took part in a mission to Kuwait, protecting civilians from the effects of weapons of mass destruction. From 2009 to 2013, it participated in the disposal of 16,339 tonnes of Soviet-era melange, a name for red fuming nitric acid used as an oxidiser in liquid rocket fuel. On 9 November 2009, the first aerosol camouflage platoon competition was held at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Lviv Oblast, won by the 91st Operational Support Regiment. During the Russo-Ukrainian War, the corps has participated in combat operations for territorial integrity in addition to its CBRN defence duties. On 11 July 2014, soldier Vasyl Yaroslavovych Vovk was killed during shelling at Zelenopillia. On 1 January 2019, Sergeant Oleh Stepanovych Voitovych was killed. In the full-scale phase of the war, the corps has been publicly recognised by Ukraine's senior leadership. In September 2024, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that RKhB troops make an important contribution to the struggle against Russian aggression, and the Minister of Defence thanked RKhB personnel for their professionalism and courage. Ukrainian military media have reported on the corps' response to chemical threats on the frontline, including nearly 12,000 cases of enemy use of dangerous chemicals reported by December 2025, radiation monitoring in the Chornobyl zone in February 2025, the use of German ZODIAC equipment, and the 704th Brigade's employment of FPV drones with thermobaric munitions.

• Established on the basis of Soviet Armed Forces chemical defence units following Ukraine's independence.

• Renamed from Chemical Troops to Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops (RKhB Defence Troops) by order of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence; date became the commemorative day.

• Participated in a mission in Kuwait to protect civilians from the effects of weapons of mass destruction.

• Participated in the disposal of 16,339 tonnes of Soviet-era melange rocket fuel oxidiser.

• First aerosol camouflage platoon competition held at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Lviv Oblast; 91st Operational Support Regiment won.

• Soldier Vasyl Yaroslavovych Vovk killed during shelling at Zelenopillia.

• Sergeant Oleh Stepanovych Voitovych killed.

• Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the Minister of Defence publicly praised RKhB troops for their contribution and professionalism.

• Military conducted radiation monitoring in the Chornobyl zone.

• Defence Forces reported nearly 12,000 cases of enemy use of dangerous chemicals.

State military CBRN defence branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, providing radiation, chemical and biological protection to troops and civilians.

• TDA-2M and TDA-M smoke-generating devices

• TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system (captured)

• BRDM-2RKhB, BRDM-2RKh, RKhM-4, RKhM Kashalot chemical reconnaissance vehicles

• RPO Shmel, RPO-16, RPO Rys, PDM-A (captured) flamethrowers

• ARS-14 automatic filling station

1. 1РХБЗ | АрміяInformarmyinform.com.ua
2. 2Про нас | АрміяInformarmyinform.com.ua
3. 3CBRN Corps of Ukraine - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4放射線・化学・生物防護部隊 (ウクライナ軍) - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org