Kraken Regiment

Kraken Regiment
Спецпідрозділ «Kraken»
Spetspidrozdil «Kraken»
Kraken insignia
ActiveFebruary 2022[1][2] – present
CountryUkraine Ukraine
Branch Main Directorate of Intelligence[3]
TypeSpetsnaz[3]
RoleReconnaissance[4]
Sabotage[4]
Size600 - 1,500 (Estimated February 2022)[5][6][3][7]
1,800 (Estimated August 2022)[8]
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial Telegram channel
Commanders
Current
commander		Konstantin V. Nemichev (February 2022 - present)[20]
Insignia
First Flag Variant
Second Flag Variant

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.

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.

  1. ^ Kunkle, Fredrick; Korolchuk, Serhii (3 June 2022). "Ukraine's volunteer 'Kraken' unit takes the fight to the Russians". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  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. ^ a b c d "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.
  4. ^ a b "Reconnaissance officers of "Kraken" unit received drones and warming kits from volunteers". Всі новини України на UAnews.net / News UA. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Ukrainian "Kraken" Elite Unit in Vanguard of the Kharkiv Counteroffensive". Defense Express. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. ^ Lidón, Luis (22 June 2022). "Ukraine volunteer unit Kraken says Russia is building up forces in Kharkiv". La Prensa Latina Media. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  7. ^ Shcherbak, Alla (13 November 2023). "Exclusive: How Ukraine's military intelligence conducted their first successful operations against Russian forces in Kharkiv". Ukraine News Premier Independent English-language Source — The New Voice of Ukraine. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Kunkle 2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Ukrainska Pravda story was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Kraken special forces unit carries out operations in Bilohorivka". Militarnyi (in Latin). 16 July 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Ukrainian fighters captured a Russian intelligence officer". Ukrainska Pravda. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  12. ^ Epstein, Jake (11 April 2023). "Ukraine's military intel chief privately warned Bakhmut was 'catastrophic' as he made a gamble to get it under control, leaked documents show". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  13. ^ "How artillery of Kharkiv "Kraken" fought enemy near Soledar. VIDEO". Censor.NET. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Defenders liberate Novoselivske village in Luhansk Oblast". Ukrainska Pravda. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  15. ^ Shcherbak, Alla (31 December 2022). "Dramatic video from Ukraine's Kraken special ops group shows liberation of Novoselivske". Ukraine News Premier Independent English-language Source — The New Voice of Ukraine. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Dramatic video from Ukraine's Kraken special ops group shows liberation of Novoselivske". Yahoo News. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Ukraine's Kraken unit releases video from Chasiv Yar, says 'no occupiers in city'". The Kyiv Independent. 7 May 2024.
  18. ^ Stein, Aaron; Lee, Rob (15 May 2024). "Russia Launches New Offensive in Ukraine". Foreign Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  19. ^ Hardie, John (14 May 2024). "Russia's Kharkiv Offensive Stretches Ukrainian Forces". FDD. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  20. ^ McCardle, Guy (6 June 2022). "Ukraine's Kraken Special Forces Take the Fight To the Russians". SOFREP. Retrieved 8 January 2024.