The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland, formed in 1966. It was established to oppose the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and to maintain Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom. The UVF has been involved in various violent activities during the Troubles, a conflict that lasted from the late 1960s to 1998. The group is known for its strong nationalist sentiments and has a history of carrying out attacks against those it perceives as threats to its objectives. The UVF is associated with the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and has been designated as a terrorist organization by several governments, including the United Kingdom.