Kraken Regiment

File:Ukrainian soldier of the Kraken Regiment in Kupiansk burning a pro-russian billboard with a Molotov Cocktail.png in Kupiansk during the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive.]]

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.{{cite web | title=Kraken attacks: the story of the Defence Intelligence unit that the Russians have demonised | website=Ukrainska Pravda | date=7 March 2023 | url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2023/03/7/7392249/ | access-date=9 May 2023 | archive-date=12 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412074743/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2023/03/7/7392249/ | url-status=live }}

File:UA flag in liberated Balakliia 01.png]]

In April 2022, the unit dismantled the monument to Marshal Georgy Zhukov in Kharkiv.{{Cite news |title=Monument to Zhukov demolished in Kharkiv |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3459921-monument-to-zhukov-demolished-in-kharkiv.html |date=17 April 2022 |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Ukrinform |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007210829/https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3459921-monument-to-zhukov-demolished-in-kharkiv.html |archive-date=7 October 2022 |url-status=live}} 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.”{{cite web | title=Ukraine's Kraken special forces unit says it captures officers, 'spoils mood' of enemy | website=Yahoo News | date=27 September 2022 | url=https://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-kraken-special-forces-unit-131500957.html | access-date=20 November 2022 | archive-date=10 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010062052/https://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-kraken-special-forces-unit-131500957.html | url-status=live }}

Also in September, the regiment was reported to have played a key role in recapturing Izium.{{cite web | last=Haynes | first=Deborah | title=Ukraine war: Behind Russia's abandoned lines, ammunition, scattered clothes and wrecked vehicles found | website=Sky News | date=15 September 2022 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-russian-military-might-is-a-big-fake-crack-volunteer-unit-spearheads-liberation-of-key-city-12697702 | access-date=26 December 2022 | archive-date=26 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226055654/https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-russian-military-might-is-a-big-fake-crack-volunteer-unit-spearheads-liberation-of-key-city-12697702 | url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web | title=Dramatic video from Ukraine's Kraken special ops group shows liberation of Novoselivske | website=Yahoo News | date=31 December 2022 | url=https://news.yahoo.com/dramatic-video-ukraine-kraken-special-113700723.html | access-date=3 January 2023 | archive-date=31 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231165039/https://news.yahoo.com/dramatic-video-ukraine-kraken-special-113700723.html | url-status=live }} In January 2023,

the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally thanked the regiment for their work fighting enemies in the Soledar region.{{cite web | title=These Ukraine troops are standing up to the Wagner mercenaries | website=Switzerland Times | date=14 January 2023 | url=https://switzerlandtimes.ch/world/these-ukraine-troops-are-standing-up-to-the-wagner-mercenaries/ | access-date=2 March 2023 | archive-date=2 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302050024/https://switzerlandtimes.ch/world/these-ukraine-troops-are-standing-up-to-the-wagner-mercenaries/ | url-status=live }}

In March 2023, Kraken announced the destruction of a Russian observation tower in Bryansk Oblast through the use of a kamikaze drone.{{cite web | title=Ukraine destroys surveillance tower in Russian border region, military says | website=CNN | date=6 March 2023 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-03-06-23/h_265c92682c57b8228fbbf082fb3b6888 | access-date=8 March 2023 | archive-date=7 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307230927/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-03-06-23/h_265c92682c57b8228fbbf082fb3b6888 | url-status=live }} The unit posted a video of the operation showing the tower being destroyed, though did not specify exactly when it took place.{{cite web | title=Kraken special unit announces destruction of observation tower in Russia | website=Yahoo News | date=5 March 2023 | url=https://news.yahoo.com/kraken-special-unit-announces-destruction-184902280.html | access-date=8 March 2023 | archive-date=7 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307194826/https://news.yahoo.com/kraken-special-unit-announces-destruction-184902280.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=Ukraine's Top Generals Want to Keep Fighting for Bakhmut | website=The New York Times | date=6 March 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/03/06/world/russia-ukraine-news | access-date=8 March 2023 | archive-date=8 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308010722/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/03/06/world/russia-ukraine-news | url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jake |title=Ukraine's military intel chief privately warned Bakhmut was 'catastrophic' as he made a gamble to get it under control, leaked documents show |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-military-intelligence-warned-fighting-russia-bakhmut-catastrophic-leaked-documents-2023-4 |access-date=14 April 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414184501/https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-military-intelligence-warned-fighting-russia-bakhmut-catastrophic-leaked-documents-2023-4 |url-status=live }}

On 21 October 2023, Zelenskyy again thanked the unit for successfully performing ″particularly complex″ tasks on the battlefield.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3776856-zelensky-praises-kraken-special-force-unit-for-exceptional-battlefield-performance.html |title=Zelensky praises Kraken special force unit for exceptional battlefield performance |website=ukrinform.net|date=21 October 2023 }}

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.{{Cite web |last1=University |first1=© Stanford |last2=Stanford |last3=California 94305 |title=MMP: Azov Battalion |url=https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/azov-battalion |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=cisac.fsi.stanford.edu |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003145123/https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/azov-battalion |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite news |last=Kunkle |first=Fredrick |date=3 June 2022 |title=Ukraine's volunteer 'Kraken' unit takes the fight to the Russians |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/03/ukraine-kraken-volunteer-military-unit/ |access-date= |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825165601/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/03/ukraine-kraken-volunteer-military-unit/ |url-status=live }}

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.

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.

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 grenade launchers made in Croatia.{{cite web | title=Ukrainian Kraken Regiment show their small arms and revolver grenade launchers | website=Ukrainska Pravda | date=5 March 2023 | url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/5/7392057/ | access-date=8 March 2023 | archive-date=7 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307112635/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/5/7392057/ | url-status=live }}

• Ukrainian Volunteer Corps
• Skala Battalion
• Omega group
• Serhii Velichko

{{reflist}}

{{Commonscat|Kraken Special Unit}}

• [https://t.me/kraken_kha Official Telegram channel of the Kraken Regiment]
• [https://t.me/natsionalKharkiv Official Telegram channel of Nemichev]

Category:Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Military units and formations established in 2022

Category:Far-right politics in Ukraine

Category:Ministry of Defence (Ukraine)

Category:Special forces of Ukraine

Category:Regiments of Ukraine