Kraken Regiment

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Kraken Regiment
Спецпідрозділ «Kraken»
Spetspidrozdil «Kraken»
Kraken Special Unit Insignia.png
Kraken insignia
ActiveFebruary 2022 [1] [2] – present
Country Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Branch Emblem of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.jpg Main Directorate of Intelligence [3]
Type Spetsnaz [3]
Role Reconnaissance [4]
Sabotage [4]
Size600 - 1,500 (Estimated February 2022) [5] [6] [3] [7]
1,800 (Estimated August 2022) [8]
Engagements
Website Official Telegram channel
Commanders
Current
commander
Konstantin V. Nemichev (February 2022 - present) [20]
Insignia
First Flag Variant Kraken Special Unit War Flag - First Variant.png
Second Flag Variant Kraken Special Unit War Flag - Second Variant.png

The Kraken Regiment (Ukrainian : Спецпідрозділ "Kraken", romanized: Spetspidrozdil "Kraken") is a Ukrainian military volunteer unit, part of the spetsnaz units of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) [3] formed in 2022 as a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Contents

Named after the mythical sea creature, the regiment was formed by veterans of the Azov Regiment and has successfully liberated several occupied villages during the fighting, [8] later also taking part in counter offensives and sabotage operations, becoming one of the more high-profile volunteer units in the war.

History

Member of the Kraken Regiment burning a pro-Russian billboard with a Molotov cocktail Ukrainian soldier of the Kraken Regiment in Kupiansk burning a pro-russian billboard with a Molotov Cocktail.png
Member of the Kraken Regiment burning a pro-Russian billboard with a Molotov cocktail

Origin

Many of the eventual members of the Kraken Regiment were amongst those who gathered in the Kharkiv hideouts that had been stashed with arms in preparation for the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. At the same time, Kostiantyn Nemichev, who was at the time head of the local National Corps, was gathering volunteer soldiers. They took part in the defence of Kharkiv, and by March after driving out Russians of Vilkhivka the unit had started to form to the point the name ″Kraken″ was chosen after a commander of the unit suggested it based on his Naval special forces background. [9]

Activities in 2022–23

Kraken members in Balakliia UA flag in liberated Balakliia 01.png
Kraken members in Balakliia

In April 2022, the unit dismantled the monument to Marshal Georgy Zhukov in Kharkiv. [21] In late September, it was reported that Nemichev claimed the unit had captured more than 15 Russian officers, handing them over to the Main Intelligence Directorate. He was quoted saying “All of them were thrown into the infantry. Therefore, it is indicative that Russians have big problems now. They do not know where to get people to send to death. Therefore, they gather them in different units and deploy them here. So they’re not doing well as it is, and then we come along and ‘spoil the mood’ some more.” [22]

Also in September, the regiment was reported to have played a key role in recapturing Izium. [23] In late December, the Main Directorate of Intelligence published a video showing Kraken along with the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade carrying out an assault on Novoselivske, successfully removing the Russian forces in the settlement and inflicting losses upon Russian equipment and personnel. [24] In January 2023, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally thanked the regiment for their work fighting enemies in the Soledar region. [25]

In March 2023, Kraken announced the destruction of a Russian observation tower in Bryansk Oblast through the use of a kamikaze drone. [26] The unit posted a video of the operation showing the tower being destroyed, though did not specify exactly when it took place. [27] [28]

According to leaked documents, in response to the worsening situation in the Battle of Bakhmut, UAF Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi "declared a need for HUR's elite Kraken unit to prevent the UAF from losing Bakhmut" and subsequently deployed it to the city. No further information was provided, but Bakhmut was still under Ukrainian control six weeks later. [29]

On 21 October 2023, Zelenskyy again thanked the unit for successfully performing ″particularly complex″ tasks on the battlefield. [30]

Organization

Leadership

The commander of the regiment, Konstantin V. Nemichev, is a military and political figure in Kharkiv, member of the National Corps and veteran of the Azov Battalion, with many of his supporters joining the unit. [31]

Members

Like the Azov Regiment, the Kraken Regiment has also been the subject of controversy surrounding recruitment of fighters from far-right groups, though the soldiers of the unit reject the claim as Russian propaganda. Commanders in the unit acknowledged that it is possible that far-right individuals are members in the regiment, but said such people are outnumbered by a diverse group with the intent to defend Ukraine. Kraken is not officially part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but answers to the Defense Ministry. [8]

The unit is said to be composed of "gym rats", "ultras" and bouncers, while also having drawn in experienced combat veterans of ages varying between 25 and 60. The morale of the regiment has been described as high. [8]

Selection process

Before becoming members of the regiment, candidates must undergo testing including questionnaires and a polygraph test. Candidates are then taken to a training center where they go through a 14-day test, of which about 30–35% of candidates pass. [9]

Equipment

Kraken has published media showcasing their use of Western small arms weaponry, including Austrian Glock pistols, Belgian Scar rifles, American M4A1 assault rifles, DD MK18s, Swiss B&T submachine guns, and lightweight multi-shot RBG6 hand grenade launchers made in Croatia. [32]

See also

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References

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  2. Korshak, Stefan (17 May 2023). "Specialized Unit Kraken – Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Units to Watch #6". Get the Latest Ukraine News Today - KyivPost. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Під час звільнення населеного пункту Руська Лозова спецпризначенці ГУР МО України знищили десятки одиниць бойової техніки та живої сили окупантів". Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 5 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
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