Transition of military personnel to summer uniforms: schedules and regulations

With the onset of the warm season, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations switch to summer uniforms. There are no clearly defined calendar dates for this change—the transition is determined by weather conditions and temperature regimes, specifically when temperatures rise to +15°C.

This rule is set forth by the Regulations on the Wearing of Military Uniforms and Insignia for the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service, as well as for military lyceum cadets, as approved by the Ministry of Defence Order No. 606, dated November 20, 2017. These regulations were officially registered with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on December 13, 2017, under No. 1502/31370.

The transition to summer or winter uniforms is ordered by the garrison commander, naval station commander, or through directives from commanders of various branches and components of the Armed Forces.

“Providing military personnel with high-quality and comfortable uniforms is a priority for the Ministry of Defence. Through improved planning approaches, including more accurate forecasting of needs, streamlined procurement procedures, and better coordination with suppliers, we have secured and prepared sufficient stocks of summer uniforms in advance. This enables us to respond promptly to changing weather conditions. For 2025, the Ministry of Defence’s procurement agency, DOT, has allocated nearly UAH 23.6 billion for contracting gear and clothing,” said Glib Kanievskyi, Director of the Procurement Policy Department at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Regulation governing the wearing of military uniforms

Military uniforms must be worn in strict accordance with the aforementioned regulations. All uniform components must comply with the established standards, be properly fitted, and be kept tidy. 

The summer field uniform may consist of the following components:

• Summer trekking socks
• Short-sleeve T-shirt
• Summer field uniform suit
• Field cap (combat kepi) or summer field panama hat
• High-top boots or summer athletic sneakers
• Trouser belt
• Wind- and water-resistant suit (for rain or windy conditions)
• Combat shirt
• Summer tubular scarf

Key properties of the summer uniform include resistance to mechanical damage during operational tasks while ensuring comfort for the wearer. Additionally, the T-shirt is designed with moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, while the summer field uniform suit features reinforced areas at the elbows, knees, and shoulders.

To ensure the timely supply of necessary uniforms, the Ministry of Defence's acquisition agency, DOT, conducts tenders in advance. In 2024, the DOT procured summer field uniform suits worth over UAH 1.9 billion, T-shirts for more than UAH 142 million, socks for over UAH 120 million, and other items.

Specialized summer uniforms for female personnel

Since 2024, the Ministry of Defence's procurement agency, DOT, has been contracting summer uniforms specifically designed by the Main Directorate for the Development of Logistics Support (MDDLS) for female service members. A total of 65,000 such sets have been procured.

Regulations on uniforms for the Ukrainian Navy

Uniform regulations for Ukrainian Navy personnel holding shipboard ranks are established by:

• The Ukrainian Navy Command
• Naval station commanders
• Senior officers at anchorages
• Commanders of ship formations on deployment or combat duty

Thus, the regulation of military uniform wear is a vital component of military discipline, and its adaptation to weather conditions enables personnel to perform their duties more effectively.

The MDDLS, for its part, is constantly working to enhance the ergonomics, functionality, and quality of military gear and clothing items. The needs, requests, and recommendations from military personnel are integrated into developing highly comfortable and functional gear and clothing for executing operational tasks under diverse conditions.