SSU Academy graduates serve across Ukraine’s Defense Forces

The figures were presented by Andrii Cherniak, Rector of the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, during a roundtable at Ukrinform.

“Over 30% of our graduates join other components of the security and defense forces, while 40–45% remain in the Security Service of Ukraine. We have never seen such figures before,” Cherniak said.

According to him, these numbers are confirmed by recent graduation results at the academy.

Previously, 100% of cadets would stay with the SSU after graduation. However, the rector noted that expanding the range of specialties and strengthening practical training has allowed graduates to integrate into the Armed Forces, the National Guard, and other security agencies.

Cherniak also emphasized that a special source of pride for the academy is the annual reinforcement of the elite Alpha Special Operations Center: about 7–8% of graduates join this unit each year. This, he said, reflects both the high level of training and the trust the academy enjoys within Ukraine’s security and defense sector.

At the same time, Cherniak stressed that the academy’s mission is not only to train professionals but also to foster patriots ready to dedicate their knowledge and strength to the state. In his view, the involvement of applicants’ families in choosing this path is becoming a decisive factor: more and more families now trust the SSU Academy, even over prestigious civilian universities.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, SSU fighters have destroyed more than 2,000 Russian tanks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.