Chosen Company | |
---|---|
Active | February 2022 – present |
Allegiance | Ukraine |
Branch | International Legion |
Role | Shock troops |
Motto(s) | Voluntas, Virtus, Violentia |
Engagements | Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
Website | https://thechosencompany.org/ |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Ryan O'Leary |
Notable Commanders | Edvard Selander Patrignani † |
Chosen Company, previously known as the 312:th Swedish Volunteer Company, is a volunteer unit fighting for Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its volunteers come from over 31 countries, but are primarily United States citizens. [1]
The company was formed in 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the 312:th Swedish volunteer Company. It was led by Swedish military veteran Edvard Selander Patrignani until his death in combat on 18 July 2022. [2] At the start of 2023, the company was renamed Chosen Company, to better represent the units multi-national composition and became attached to the 59th Motorized Brigade. [3] The company fought in the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive. [4]
In 2024, German medical officer Caspar Grosse spoke to the New York Times about three incidents where members of Chosen Company allegedly killed Russian POWs. In the first alleged incident dated August 2023, a severely injured, unarmed Russian soldier was crawling through a trench and begging for help in a mix of broken English and Russian. The Russian was then shot in the chest by a member of Chosen Company. When the Russian soldier continued to move and breathe, another fighter shot him in the head. However, these allegations were denied by the company's commander. [5]
As of July 2024 the company's structure is:
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