From Soviet footwraps to pixel: how the ZSU uniform evolved over the years of independence

Speaker 1

What distinguishes a civilian from a military person? Of course, it is the uniform. Mr. Gennadiy, you have served in the military for roughly as long as I have been alive. And, actually, it is interesting, in what uniform did the army then meet its independence?

Speaker 2

Well, I'll go back a bit. The thing is, I entered military school back in the Soviet Union. And the uniform was, of course, Soviet. These were breeches, boots with wool socks, and that hated side cap. At the end of the first year, we were issued the so-called afganka as field gear. This is a uniform of this color. We were very happy that we didn't have to wear that side cap. But in Afghanistan, the afganka was issued to everyone. On the territory of the Soviet Union, they started issuing it only to officers. Then they started issuing it to cadets. Soldiers continued until the very collapse of the Soviet Union. Everyone went around in those breeches and boots. And already with the independence of Ukraine, such a uniform, the afganka, became everyday wear.

Speaker 1

Well, but during the Afghan period, I know there were also these protective suits, mesh ones. Like those with hoods, if you remember. It was worn, as we understand, over this afghanka, in order to somehow

Speaker 2

camouflage. No, really, because it's a bit different here. So, there was the so-called maskukhalat. The camouflage was called "berezka." It was mainly used by the border guards, and intelligence units wore it there. The protective mesh suit was created to be worn over clothing. But in Afghanistan, according to accounts, it was very popular because it wasn't hot in it, and they wore it directly on the bare body. After Ukraine gained independence, there were attempts to get rid of everything Soviet, and so they decided to replace the uniform with camouflage. At first, they issued what was in the Soviet stockpiles. For example, this kind of camouflage in the Soviet army was intended only for the VDV. But gradually, camouflage began to be issued to everyone.

Speaker 1

So, to other branches of the military?

Speaker 2

Yes. In terms of cut, they were actually the same as the afghanka, but in these kinds of colors. And those earflaps were also kept on the caps.

Speaker 1

And what were those earflaps for anyway? Just so the wind wouldn't blow in, just so the commands wouldn't be heard? Well, that's exactly how I'm joking, so the commands wouldn't be heard. That's a bit too little,

Speaker 2

cap. But in general, if it was a bit cold there, you could detach these earflaps, and the wind wouldn't bother you as much.

Speaker 1

And the camouflage itself, as far as I know, it was called "Butan A", there was also "Butan B", it differed slightly in color. Well, that's what I googled, what I read. Tell me from what you know; it's just interesting how the pattern changed in different years.

Speaker 2

Camouflage was in short supply. I only heard the word "Butan" from you. We just called it "Kamuk", and the uniform itself was only of this pattern. And this is from the warehouses, still Soviet warehouses. These are old stocks. In Ukraine, when there weren't enough of them—they aren't eternal, they wear out—they decided to create their own pattern. I don't know the history very well, but they used a pattern, meaning a design, as a basis. Yeah. Like this, from the Soviet one. But as for the palette, here we see brown, something like yellow, and green, whereas here there are only shades of green. By the way, when Ukraine was carrying out a mission in Iraq, they sewed something, well, similar to the "dubok" patterns, but a desert version.

Speaker 1

What year did dubok actually appear, was it around 96?

Speaker 2

-th, 97th? Yes, approximately, approximately so.

Speaker 1

I even looked like my father just now, who used to go fishing in roughly such an outfit.

Speaker 2

So, the first caps were an exact copy of those Soviet ones; they also had earflaps. But probably, later someone among our generals decided that a soldier should hear commands, and they made such an economy version without earflaps. The first Ukrainian dubok in terms of cut was an exact copy of the Soviet one.

Speaker 1

And did he rush around the same way or not?

Speaker 2

No, it wore worse because the material was what is called "stiklyashka." Maybe it had more… synthetics? It shines a bit and gets greasy very quickly. Of course, FB was much later. Caps with cockades—these appeared in specifically this cut, this shape. They appeared when the MM-14 camouflage and the uniform they called "geleteyka" at the time appeared.

Speaker 1

It was 2014, just when our liberation war had already begun.

Speaker 3

will return, to brighten! I congratulate you on the 24th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine!

Speaker 1

Why did you decide to change the camouflage pattern itself?

Speaker 2

This camouflage pattern for concealment is not suitable for our terrain at all. Even when there is a lot of greenery. Even if it's an oak, even in an oak forest, it camouflages and masks very poorly. I liked the MM-14 when it appeared.

Speaker 4

One of the marine tactical groups conducted a multi-kilometer march on wheeled vehicles in the village of Zatoka.

Speaker 1

Soldiers, I know you were afraid during the ATO period to go on combat missions in leggings because they burned, stayed wet, and simply stuck to the skin. I understand that there was such a problem because the material was synthetic.

Speaker 2

I don't know. They changed the material of that item there several times, but the one they brought us was this kind of camouflage, "pixels," as they call it. And the material was exactly like this. Then later, when I received the next uniform, it was already white, made of this material. Is this "waffle" now? Yes, waffle. This kind of fabric is correctly called rip-stop. Here you see, ordinary cotton, and this is rip-stop. Firstly, it is lighter.

Speaker 1

He

Speaker 2

the best of this that I taught. And what is this little waffle made for? If there is a small hole, then it won't start tearing further, like here. And it will start tearing further.

Speaker 1

What exactly has changed? Perhaps I'm interested in the cut. We've discussed the fabric, but what about the cut? What exactly? The placement of the pockets, or has something become more convenient for the soldier during combat operations?

Speaker 2

Well, when there are many pockets, it's generally more convenient.

Speaker 1

But these pockets must be properly positioned so that they are accessible

Speaker 2

then, when you put on your protection. Let's say, now practically all countries sew uniforms according to the same standards. Pockets on the pants, on the thigh. Possibly, a pocket for a tourniquet. A couple of pockets on the chest and pockets on the sleeves. Well, and

Speaker 1

There are also pockets so that you can insert, for example, knee pads and arm guards. Elbow pads.

Speaker 2

Yes, yes, in Ukraine. Losses,

Speaker 1

It's also available in pixel. Yes, yes, not everyone knows, but it exists. A pattern like MM-14. Why did they switch to it and what is its special feature?

Speaker 2

Well, why they switched, why they created pixels specifically. Well, maybe it's that we're chasing after the Americans, who were the first to use the pixel pattern; the US army switched after the First Iraq War. Before that, for very, very many years, they had "Woodland" camouflage.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Speaker 2

The army, the national guard, and the marine corps all wore the same camouflage.

Speaker 1

Uh-huh.

Speaker 2

Then, they switched to another camouflage. It had a pixelated pattern. It was called, I think, "Marpat". The Marine Corps switched to another camouflage pattern. It was brighter. By the way, I really like the one from the American Marines for our area. Well, yes, May, June. It camouflages very well. The British developed Multicam. But they were developing it—I might be wrong—they developed it for about 15 years.

Speaker 1

Yes, quite a long time, I

Speaker 2

I saw it too. They were conducting experiments, there, testing it under various conditions. And now they are starting to transition to a similar pattern…

Speaker 1

And

Speaker 2

Armed Forces of Ukraine? Both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other countries. But there is one, as they say, nuance. The thing is, that the British do not allow exact copying… Their pattern, their design. Their pattern, their palette. And therefore, countries modify it slightly. Now France is switching to this camouflage; Germany is planning to, I know. Well, due to financial issues, they have postponed it for a few years, meaning they won't switch immediately, they will do it gradually… By the way, the current German camouflage, called flet there, masks just as poorly as the dubok.

Speaker 1

Well, and how we arrived at the new MM-25, which the Armed Forces will now gradually transition to—this pattern has proven itself very well. And, essentially, the fact that we are transitioning to it now is simply the legalization of what is already being used in combat.

Speaker 2

Yes, I agree, this is all because of our military's love for cartoons. Whatever the uniform may be, remember that it is a military uniform. Love it and learn to wear it.

Speaker 1

Hold the line, see you!