Internal Troops of Ukraine

The Internal Troops of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Внутрішні війська України, Vnutrisni Viys'ka Ukrayiny - Interior forces of Ukraine; abbreviated ВВ, VV) is an uniformed gendarmerie-like force in Ukraine.

Internal Troops are administratively subordinated to the Chief Directorate of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (the civilian police authority of the country) which closely cooperate with the Ministry of Emergencies. The VV are used to assist militsiya in policing, deal with large-scale riots and internal armed conflicts, and safeguard important facilities such as nuclear power plants. During wartime, the Internal Troops fall under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian armed forces and fulfill tasks of local defense and rear area security. In case of a state of emergency, the Internal Troops fulfill a special regime of emergency nation-wide or throughout the declared zone of emergency.

The Internal Troops of Ukraine retain much of the personnel, bases, equipment and traditions of the Soviet Internal Troops. The reason for this is that Soviet VV units that were stationed in Ukrainian SSR during the dissolution of the Soviet Union fell under jurisdiction of the newly-independent Ukraine. However, Ukrainian VV troops are not a direct successor of the Soviet Internal Troops (unlike in Russia) and have experienced substantial reform of their structure and tasks.

As of 2008, the Internal Troops of Ukraine included about 33,000 servicepersons.