Vorlage:Short description Vorlage:Use American English Vorlage:Use dmy dates Vorlage:Infobox military unit
The Kraken Regiment (Vorlage:Lang-uk) is a Ukrainian military volunteer unit, part of the spetsnaz units of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR)[1] formed on 24 February 2022, the same day as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 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, becoming one of the more high-profile volunteer units in the war.
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.[2]
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,[3] with many of his supporters joining the unit. 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.[2]
In April 2022, the unit dismantled the monument to Marshal Georgy Zhukov in Kharkiv.[4] 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.”[5] Also in September, the regiment was reported to have played a key role in recapturing Izium.[6]
See also
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Einzelnachweise
Bearbeiten- ↑ Під час звільнення населеного пункту Руська Лозова спецпризначенці ГУР МО України знищили десятки одиниць бойової техніки та живої сили окупантів. In: Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. 5. Mai 2022, abgerufen am 14. November 2022 (ukrainisch).
- ↑ a b Fredrick Kunkle: Ukraine's volunteer 'Kraken' unit takes the fight to the Russians In: The Washington Post, 3 June 2022
- ↑ © Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305: MMP: Azov Battalion. In: cisac.fsi.stanford.edu. Abgerufen am 3. Oktober 2022 (englisch).
- ↑ Monument to Zhukov demolished in Kharkiv In: Ukrinform, 17 April 2022. Abgerufen im 14 November 2022
- ↑ Ukraine’s Kraken special forces unit says it captures officers, ‘spoils mood’ of enemy. In: Yahoo News. 27. September 2022, abgerufen am 20. November 2022.
- ↑ Deborah Haynes: Ukraine war: Behind Russia's abandoned lines, ammunition, scattered clothes and wrecked vehicles found. In: Sky News. 15. September 2022, abgerufen am 26. Dezember 2022.
[[Category:Military units and formations of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] [[Category:Far-right politics in Ukraine]] [[Category:Ministry of Defence (Ukraine)]] [[Category:Ukrainian intelligence agencies]] [[Category:Special forces of Ukraine]]