Personal protective equipment for the military: key equipment ensuring the safety of service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service

The Ministry of Defence equips service members of the Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service with modern and effective protective gear. They meet high standards and are designed to ensure maximum safety during combat missions.

“Equipping military personnel with personal protective gear is among the top priorities for the Ministry of Defence. We continuously update safety requirements to ensure that our service members can carry out combat missions with the highest level of protection. This is a crucial element in enhancing the effectiveness of our defenders,” said Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Dmytro Klimenkov.

Personal protective equipment is issued in accordance with Standard No. 1 (combat unified kit) and Standard No. 2 (combat special kit). This is outlined in the Ministry of Defence Order No. 232, dated April 29, 2016.

The personnel are provided with the following items:

Ballistic protection equipment

• Ballistic combat helmet: designed to protect the head from fragments during combat operations and training exercises. It consists of a shell, internal components (retention system with a locking mechanism, energy-absorbing pads, etc.), a unitary front mount, and side rails.

The retention system features adjustable buckles for chin fitting. Head circumference is adjusted using an adjustment dial, ensuring a quick and precise fit.

• Modular body armor: provides protection against bullets and fragments, designed for adaptation to various combat conditions. Base configuration:

- cover with a frontal soft ballistic element and a hard armor plate;

- cover with a rear soft ballistic element and a hard armor plate;

- cumberband: side covers with soft ballistic elements;

- groin protection cover with a soft ballistic element;

- neck protection covers with soft ballistic elements;

- load-bearing belt with a soft ballistic element;

- shoulder protection covers with soft ballistic elements;

- thigh protection covers with soft ballistic elements.

Hearing protection equipment

• Specialized individual earplugs: designed to protect hearing from high noise levels during combat operations. These earplugs are reusable. They come in two types:

- earplugs permanently connected by a cord;

- earplugs feature a switching mechanism, allowing operation in various modes with adjustable noise reduction levels.

• Specialized headphones with an active noise reduction system designed to protect the ears from hazardous noise levels and loud sounds, such as explosions and gunshots. Additionally, they enable the user to hear environmental sounds via external microphones. 

These headphones support the reception and transmission of voice communications and warning signals. They are categorized based on the placement of the headband, either above or behind the head.

Eye protection equipment

• Ballistic eye protection goggles: for eye protection against various threats, including artificial ones (such as lasers, solid fragments, or liquid splashes) and natural hazards (like ultraviolet radiation, sand, dust, etc.) They are also effective against any combination of such threats during combat operations and training exercises.

The goggles are compatible with helmets, night vision devices, optical equipment (binoculars, scopes, sighting tubes), and personal hearing protection equipment (headphones, earplugs).

The basic set has the following elements:

- a frame that secures the light filter and includes temples to keep the goggles in place on the face;

- nosepiece;

- transparent light filter (CLEAR);

- sun protection light filter (GREY);

- high contrast light filter (ORANGE);

- elastic retaining strap;

- two pouches for storing light filters and their care;

- protective carrying and storage case;

- usage and care manual in Ukrainian.

• Ballistic protective goggle mask: serves the same purpose as ballistic eye protection goggles but features a different configuration:

- frame that secures the light filter and keeps the goggle mask in place on the face;

- transparent light filter (CLEAR);

- sun protection light filter (GREY);

- high contrast light filter (ORANGE);

- adjustable elastic strap ensuring a snug fit to the face and secure positioning on the head or helmet;

- face seal: a frame component that ensures a secure and comfortable fit to the face (available in two variants: with or without an additional porous layer);

- two pouches for storing light filters and their care;

- protective carrying and storage case;

- anti-glare cover: to prevent unmasking glare from the lens when placing the item on top of the helmet, as well as to protect it from sand, dust, and other small particles of debris in this position (the color of the cover is specified separately);

- usage and care manual in Ukrainian.

Hand protection equipment

• Protective gloves: designed to protect hands from mechanical impacts and potential risks when handling ropes and halyards in field conditions, during combat missions and training exercises, and in combat operations.

The gloves consist of a palm section and a back (upper) section:

- palm section is crafted from synthetic leather, reinforced with additional pads (featuring damping/reinforcing material inside), and further strengthened with knitted aramid fabric on the inside. Between the thumb and forefinger, a leather insert is placed for enhanced durability.

- back (upper) section is crafted from two layers of material. To further protect the hands, the back (uppers) outside surface is reinforced with a thermoplastic rubber pad, thermally bonded to the knitted fabric.

The item is secured on the wrist with a wrist strap that fastens using a textile fastener.

• Tactical gloves: ensure protection from mechanical impacts during training and practical shooting drills with small arms. The back (upper) section of the item is crafted from lightweight knitted materials, while the palm section is crafted from synthetic leather.

The item is secured on the wrist with a wrist strap that fastens using a textile

Joint protection equipment 

• Tactical combat elbow pads: are intended to protect the elbow joints from damage and injury. Composed of:

- base, which is intended to facilitate the adjustment of the product to the upper limbs;

- impact-resistant cups (attached to the base);

- shock-absorbing soft insert (paced in the base of the product).

- two woven elastic straps;

- two frame buckles per slot. 

The elbow pads can be adjusted to the arm using elastic straps that are securely fixed to one side of the product. On the opposite side, they pass through frame buckles, ensuring a secure fastening. The length of the straps can be adjusted with textile fasteners.

• Tactical combat knee pads: protect the knee joint while in a half-kneeling position with pressure on the knee. Composed of:

- base that ensures the fixation of the product;

- impact-resistant plastic cups;

- soft insert and two woven straps, one of which is elastic. 

The product is fastened to the leg with buckles, allowing strap length adjustment.