The Ukrainian Air Force (Ukrainian: Пові́тряні си́ли Збро́йних сил Украї́ни) is the air force of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Its headquarters are in the city of Vinnytsia. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, many aircraft were left in Ukrainian territory. Ever since, the Ukrainian Air Force has been downsizing and upgrading its forces. The main inventory of the air force still consists of Soviet-made aircraft. As of 2007, 36,300 personnel and 225 aircraft were in service in the Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense forces. Since Ukrainian independence in 1991, the air force has suffered from chronic underinvestment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise inoperable. Despite this, Ukraine still possesses the world's 27th largest air force and the seventh largest air force in Europe, largely due to the ability of its domestic defense industry Ukroboronprom and its Antonov subsidiary to maintain its older aircraft. The Ukrainian Air Force participated in the war in Donbas. Following the 5 September 2014 ceasefire, the air force was suspended from carrying out missions in the contested areas of Donbas. Since February 2022, the Air Force has been engaged in constant combat operations in the face of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
