Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine)

{{Infobox government agency

| name = Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

| nativename = Головне управління розвідки Міністерства оборони України

| nativename_r =

| seal = Emblem of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.svg

| seal_width =

| seal_caption = Seal of the HUR

| logo = Emblem of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.png

| logo_width =

| logo_caption = Emblem of the HUR{{Cite web |date=2016-10-30 |title=Нова емблема воєнної розвідки України - Політика - ТСН.ua |url=http://tsn.ua/politika/u-rosiyi-raptovo-pochalasya-isteriya-cherez-emblemu-voyennoyi-rozvidki-ukrayini-795788.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030134112/http://tsn.ua/politika/u-rosiyi-raptovo-pochalasya-isteriya-cherez-emblemu-voyennoyi-rozvidki-ukrayini-795788.html |archive-date=30 October 2016 }}

| image = Buildings of Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (HUR) in Kyiv, 2012.jpg

| image_caption = The HUR buildings on Rybalskyi Peninsula, Kyiv

| formed = {{Start date and age|1992|9|7}}

| preceding1 = GRU (Soviet Union)

| preceding2 = Military Strategic Intelligence of MoD

| dissolved =

| superseding =

| jurisdiction = Government of Ukraine

| motto = {{langx|la|Sapiens dominabitur astris}} ({{translation}} The wise will rule the stars)

| employees = Classified

| budget = ₴1 billion

| minister1_name =

| minister1_pfo =

| minister2_name =

| minister2_pfo =

| chief1_name = Kyrylo Budanov

| chief1_position = Lieutenant general

| chief2_name =

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| parent_department =

| parent_agency = {{flagicon image|Standard of the Ukrainian Defense Minister rect.svg|20px}} Ministry of Defence

| child1_agency =

| child2_agency =

| website = [http://gur.gov.ua/en/ gur.gov.ua]

| footnotes =

}}

File:Буданов Кирило Олексійович.jpg Kyrylo Budanov, HUR chief, in 2020]]

The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine ({{langx|uk|Головне управління розвідки Міністерства оборони України, ГУР МОУ|Holovne upravlinnia rozvidky Ministerstva oborony Ukrainy, GUR / HUR MO}}),{{efn|Also rendered as GUR / HUR MOU.}} also known in English as the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), is the military intelligence service of the Ukrainian government. It is an agency of the Ministry of Defence, not the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

History

The agency was established from the existing intelligence assets of the Kyiv, Odesa and Carpathian military districts of the Soviet Armed Forces and its Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of Ukraine.

The Intelligence Directorate of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was established in February 1992. Based on a presidential decree issued on September 7, 1992, the Strategic Military Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence was created. The existence of two separate agencies with similar responsibilities, and reporting to different authorities, hampered the development of an effective military intelligence system.{{cite web |url=https://gur.mil.gov.ua/en/content/creation.html |title=History of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine |website=gur.mil.gov.ua |access-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214032906/https://gur.mil.gov.ua/en/content/creation.html |archive-date=14 February 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian intelligence or how the wise is ruling the stars |publisher=Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center |date=2021-09-06 |url=https://uscc.org.ua/en/ukrainian-intelligence-or-how-the-wise-is-ruling-the-stars/ |website=uscc.org.ua |language=en-GB |access-date=2022-09-27}}

On July 6, 1993, the Decree of the President of Ukraine ordered the merging of the two agencies to form the Main Military Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence. It was renamed the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, or Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) for short, on April 4, 1994.

On March 22, 2001, the Ukrainian parliament (Rada) ratified the Law of Ukraine "On Intelligence Agencies of Ukraine". The HUR was given the status of special government authority.

On August 18, 2021, HUR special forces moved on Il-76MDs from the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force and flew to Kabul with the mission of evacuating citizens of Ukraine and foreigners during the 2021 Kabul airlift. In total, the aircraft of the brigade made six flights and transported more than 700 citizens of different countries. Special forces went to Kabul three times a day to find and bring citizens who were to be evacuated to the Kabul airport.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=Війна в Афганістані - українські спецпризначенці евакуювали 700 осіб - інтерв'ю з учасником операції |url=https://babel.ua/texts/69124-navkolo-prosto-zombilend-z-tebe-vse-pochinayut-zrivati-yak-ukrajinskiy-specnaz-zrobiv-mayzhe-nemozhlive-dostaviv-z-kabulu-v-aeroport-700-osib-rozpovidaye-uchasnik-specoperaciji |access-date=2023-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902163538/https://babel.ua/texts/69124-navkolo-prosto-zombilend-z-tebe-vse-pochinayut-zrivati-yak-ukrajinskiy-specnaz-zrobiv-mayzhe-nemozhlive-dostaviv-z-kabulu-v-aeroport-700-osib-rozpovidaye-uchasnik-specoperaciji |archive-date=2 September 2021 }}

On September 20, 2023, CNN reported{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Victoria Butenko, Nima Elbagir, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Tamara Qiblawi, Allegra Goodwin, Andrew Carey, Pallabi Munsi, Mahamat Tahir Zene, Barbara Arvanitidis, Alex Platt, Lauren |date=2023-09-19 |title=Exclusive: Ukraine's special services 'likely' behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces in Sudan, a Ukrainian military source says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/africa/ukraine-military-sudan-wagner-cmd-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=CNN |language=en}} that Ukrainian special forces were likely behind multiple attacks on Wagner-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forces in Sudan, using DJI Mavic 3 and first-person view (FPV) drones. In May 2023, HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov vowed{{Cite web |last=Orlova |first=Kateryna Zakharchenko, Alisa |date=2024-02-05 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian Special Forces Interrogate Wagner Mercenaries in Sudan |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/27637 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Get the Latest Ukraine News Today - KyivPost |language=en}} to “destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world, wherever they are.” In March 2024, reports confirmed that HUR operators from the "Timur" unit were actively fighting Wagner and RSF in Sudan.{{Cite news |last1=Lovett |first1=Ian |last2=Nikolaienko |first2=Nikita |last3=Bariyo |first3=Nicholas |date=6 March 2024 |title=Ukraine Is Now Fighting Russia in Sudan |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-is-now-fighting-russia-in-sudan-87caf1d8 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240322160143/https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-is-now-fighting-russia-in-sudan-87caf1d8 |archive-date=22 March 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=DOCUMENT LCI - L'Ukraine combat la Russie en Afrique : les dessous d'une opération longtemps secrète |url=https://www.tf1info.fr/international/video-document-lci-comment-l-ukraine-combat-la-russie-et-wagner-en-afrique-2290212.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=TF1 INFO |language=fr}}

On January 30, 2024, the DIU received a Snatch Land Rover SUV for its personnel from volunteers of the British-Ukrainian society "Driving Ukraine".{{cite web | url=https://gur.gov.ua/en/content/z-trasy-formuly-1-na-ukrainskyi-front-brytanski-volontery-peredaly-dlia-hur-bronovanyi-land-rover | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325151956/https://gur.gov.ua/en/content/z-trasy-formuly-1-na-ukrainskyi-front-brytanski-volontery-peredaly-dlia-hur-bronovanyi-land-rover | archive-date=25 March 2025 | title=British volunteers handed over an armored Land Rover to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine }}

On 2 May 2025, a Ukrainian HUR MAGURA V5 naval drone shot down a Russian Su-30 using a R-73 missile, 50 km west of Novorossiysk. The crew of two ended up in the Black Sea, where a civilian ship later recovered them. HUR claimed it was the first time a maritime drone shot down an aircraft.{{Cite web |title= Ukrainian intelligence destroys Russian Su-30 with Magura sea drone in first of its kind strike (video) |author= OLEKSANDRA BASHCHENKO |date=2025-05-03|url= https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukrainian-intelligence-destroys-russian-su-1746268365.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=RBC Ukraine |language=en}}{{Cite web |title= $50M Russian Su-30 in Black Sea |author= Roman Pryhodko |date=2025-05-03|url= https://militarnyi.com/en/news/after-a-combined-attack-on-the-russian-black-sea-fleet-base-a-russian-aircrew-ended-up-in-the-sea/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website= militarnyi |language=en}}{{Cite web |title= Ukrainian sea drone downs $50M Russian Su-30 in Black Sea |author= Boyko Nikolov |date=2025-05-03|url= https://bulgarianmilitary.com/amp/2025/05/03/ukrainian-sea-drone-downs-50m-russian-su-30-in-black-sea/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website= bulgarianmilitary |language=en}}

Emblem

In 2016, the HUR emblem was changed to an illustration of an owl plunging a sword into Russia. The owl has been said to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the emblem of the Spetsnaz special forces of the Russian GRU, which depicts a bat - a natural prey of the owl.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-20 |title=13 Awesome Facts About Bats {{!}} U.S. Department of the Interior |url=https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-facts-about-bats |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.doi.gov |language=en}}{{citation needed|reason= This is original synthesis. The source simply claims that owls are predators of bats, no mention is made of any political use of the bat as a symbol, let alone owls|date=April 2024}} In addition, the motto "The wise will rule over the stars" ({{langx|la|Sapiens Dominabitur Astris}}) ostensibly alludes to the GRU's motto "Only the stars are above us" ({{langx|ru|Выше нас только звёзды|Vyshe nas tolko zvyozdy}}). The new emblem was met with outrage from Russian journalists and politicians, including Dmitry Rogozin, and with some calling it a provocation.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-30 |title=У Росії раптово почалася істерія через емблему воєнної розвідки України |url=https://tsn.ua/politika/u-rosiyi-raptovo-pochalasya-isteriya-cherez-emblemu-voyennoyi-rozvidki-ukrayini-795788.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030134112/http://tsn.ua/politika/u-rosiyi-raptovo-pochalasya-isteriya-cherez-emblemu-voyennoyi-rozvidki-ukrayini-795788.html |archive-date=30 October 2016 |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=TSN |language=uk}}

Spheres of activity

The Main Directorate of Intelligence conducts its activity in the military, political, technical, economic, signals, informational and environmental spheres.

The major missions of the directorate are:{{Cite web |title=Що ми робимо |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/directions.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}

Extracting, analyzing, processing and disseminating information in accordance with the law "On Intelligence"{{Cite web |title=Про розвідку |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/912-20 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України |language=uk}}
Conducting measures aimed at promoting the realization of the national interests of Ukraine
Identifying external threats to the national security of Ukraine, and conducting measures against such threats
Participating in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities that pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine
Cooperating with foreign intelligence bodies
Carrying out other activities defined by law to ensure the national security of Ukraine

Organization

The HUR has an executive office and several agency-wide functions, and five major directorates and departments consisting of the following:{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Directorates:

Strategic Intelligence Directorate
Armed Forces General Staff Intelligence Support Directorate
Information Support Directorate
Personnel Policy Directorate
Logistic Directorate

Departments:

Internal Security Department
Planning Department
Automation and Communication Department
Economic and Finance Department
Information and state secret protection Department

= Combat formations =

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the only field reconnaissance unit of the HUR was a special unit subordinated to the Directorate's 4th Special Intelligence Service (4-та Служба спеціальної розвідки):{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

21x21px 10th Separate Special Purpose Unit (10-й окремий загін спеціального призначення, {{MUN}}A2245), based in Rybalskyi Peninsula, Kyiv
Battalion HHC
3 operational companies – 1st – 3rd Special Purpose Company (1 – 3 сотня спеціального призначення)

As of 2024, the units subordinate to the HUR include:

Reconnaissance units subordinated to Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU):

21x21px {{ill|49th Reconnaissance Training Center|uk|49-й навчальний центр розвідки (Україна)}}{{Cite web |title=49 навчальний центр розвідки |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/49-navchalnyi-tsentr-rozvidky.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
23x23px 54th Reconnaissance Battalion{{Cite web |title=54 окремий розвідувальний батальйон |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/54-ogrb.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
23x23px 74th Reconnaissance Battalion{{Cite web |title=74 окремий розвідувальний батальйон |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/74-okremyi-rozviduvalnyi-batalion.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
27x27px 120th Reconnaissance Regiment{{Cite web |date=2022-09-03 |title=Воїни ЗСУ завершують навчання з БПЛА Poseidon H10 i H6: на що здатні кіпрські "пташки" |url=https://focus.ua/uk/voennye-novosti/527954-voiny-vsu-zavershayut-obuchenie-s-bpla-poseidon-h10-i-h6-na-chto-sposobny-kiprskie-ptichki |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=ФОКУС |language=uk}}
29x29px 129th Reconnaissance Battalion
23x23px 130th Reconnaissance Battalion{{Cite web |title=130 окремий розвідувальний батальйон |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/130-okremyi-rozviduvalnyi-batalion.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
23x23px 131st Reconnaissance Battalion{{Cite web |title=131 окремий розвідувальний батальйон |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/131-okremyi-rozviduvalnyi-batalion.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
25x25px 132nd Air Assault Reconnaissance Battalion{{Cite web |title=Міністерство оборони вирішило переселити розвідбат десантників з Озерного в Житомир |url=https://www.zhitomir.info/news_197421.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=www.zhitomir.info |language=uk}}
24x24px 140th Marine Reconnaissance Battalion{{Cite news |date=22 December 2020 |title=Вірні завжди |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/virny-zavzhdy.html |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
143rd Reconnaissance Battalion

Spetsnaz units under AFU operational control:

22px Shaman Battalion{{Cite news |last=Hulevata |first=Tetyana |date=27 June 2022 |title=Український спецназ працює на території росії: що дізналися західні ЗМІ |url=https://telegraf.com.ua/ukr/ukraina/2022-06-27/5708910-ukrainskiy-spetsnaz-rabotaet-na-territorii-rossii-chto-uznali-zapadnye-smi |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Telegraf |language=uk}}{{Cite news |last=Tucker |first=Maxim |date=26 June 2022 |title='Shaman' special forces take the fight across the border into Russia |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/shaman-special-forces-take-the-fight-across-the-border-into-russia-0l6srllwk |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220712194131/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/shaman-special-forces-take-the-fight-across-the-border-into-russia-0l6srllwk |archive-date=12 July 2022 |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=The Times}}
22px Special Purpose Unit "Kraken"{{Cite news |last=Kunkle |first=Fredrick |date=3 June 2022 |title=Ukraine's volunteer 'Kraken' unit takes the fight to the Russians |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/03/ukraine-kraken-volunteer-military-unit/ |access-date=26 February 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
22px Artan Unit{{Cite news |last=Kasumova |first=Roksana |date=30 August 2023 |title=Defence Intelligence special unit commander reveals details of operations on the Black Sea |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2023/08/30/7417610/ |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Ukrainska Pravda}}
22px Revanche Tactical Group{{Cite web|url=https://lb.ua/society/2024/07/04/622441_sili_oboroni_vidiyshli_iz_mikrorayonu.html|title=Сили оборони відійшли із мікрорайону "Канал" у Часовому Яру, – ОСУВ "Хортиця" (фото)|publisher=Left Bank|first=Sergiy|last=Albul|date=4 July 2024|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20241007100045/https://lb.ua/society/2024/07/04/622441_sili_oboroni_vidiyshli_iz_mikrorayonu.html|archive-date=7 October 2024|access-date=13 February 2025}}
Special Purpose Unit "Timur"{{Cite news |last=Kravets |first=Roman |date=13 February 2024 |title=Керівник спецпідрозділу ГУР Тимур: Коли Буданов виходить з нами на операції – це стрес, бо завжди великі ризики |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2024/02/13/7441562/ |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=Ukrainska Pravda |language=uk}}
22px 2nd Special Operations Detachment[https://armyinform.com.ua/2024/09/15/rejd-bilya-uzberezhzhya-krymu-ta-znyshhennya-rosijskogo-su-30sm-kadry-bojovoyi-roboty-gur/ Рейд біля узбережжя Криму та знищення російського Су-30СМ: кадри бойової роботи ГУР]
27x27px Bratstvo Battalion{{Cite news |date=7 March 2024 |title=Пам'яті воїнів-розвідників Непийпива, Святоші, Аполлона й Тарасія |trans-title=In memory of scouts Nepiypyva, Svyatoshu, Apollona and Tarasya |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/pamiati-voiniv-rozvidnykiv-nepyipyva-sviatoshi-apollona-i-tarasiia.html |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
22px NOBODY Battalion[https://gur.gov.ua/content/zahin-nobody-we-are-u-skladi-spetspidrozdilu-tymura-hur-mo-ukrainy-xfpbsjycmw8.html Загін nobody_we_are у складі спецпідрозділу Тимура ГУР МО України]{{Cite web |title=Тренування воїнів групи "Nobody" у складі підрозділу Тимура ГУР МО України |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/trenuvannia-voiniv-hrupy-nobody-u-skladi-pidrozdilu-tymura-hur-mo-ukrainy.html |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=gur.gov.ua}}
22x22px Stuhna Battalion{{Cite news |date=4 October 2023 |title=Крим буде українським! |trans-title=Crimea will be Ukrainian! |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/krym-bude-ukrainskym.html |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
22px Chimera Unit{{Cite web |title="Кажется, будто падает сам самолет": в ГУР показали кадры боев за Авдеевку и обстрелов города КАБами |url=https://nv.ua/ukraine/events/avdeevka-v-gur-pokazali-video-boev-za-gorod-50393087.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=nv.ua |language=ru}}
22px Special Purpose "Aratta" Battalion (formerly the 8th Battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army){{Cite web |title=Переобладнання пікапу в мобільну майстерню для 8-го окремого батальйону АРАТТА спецпідрозділ ГУР МО |url=https://tviykrok.com.ua/projects/maysterni/locker_aratta/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=ТВІЙ КРОК |language=uk}}
22px Black Winter Group[https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cwypl0yvyqqo "Ми дихаємо в спину Росії скрізь". Інтерв'ю з командиром досі секретного підрозділу ГУР]
22px "Paragon Company" Detachment{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Як працює спецзагін Буданова PARAGON? |url=https://aspi.com.ua/news/politika/yak-pracyue-speczagin-budanova-paragon |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=aspi.com.ua |language=uk-UA}}
22px Volunteer Reconnaissance Battalion "Sonechko"{{Cite news |date=18 December 2023 |title=Тренування розвідників-штурмовиків |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/trenuvannia-rozvidnykiv-shturmovykiv.html |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}{{Cite web |title=Побратими називали його незамінним воїном: на війні загинув 23-річний доброволець з Закарпаття |url=https://fakty.ua/422573-pobratimy-nazyvali-ego-nezamenimym-voinom-na-vojne-pogib-23-letnij-dobrovolec-iz-zakarpatya |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=fakty.ua |date=11 July 2023 |language=uk}}
Special Purpose Unit "Vidar"{{Cite web |title=Закарпатець Руслан Каганець повідомив про створення спецпідрозділу "Відар" ГУР МО |url=https://anons-zak.com.ua/suspilstvo/34643-zakarpatec-ruslan-kaganec-povdomiv-pro-stvorennya-specpdrozdlu-vdar-gur-mo.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Анонс Закарпаття - всі новини Закарпатської області та м. Ужгород |language=uk}}
{{flagicon image|Kabul 9 flag.png}} Kabul 9{{Cite web |date=9 January 2024 |title="Погляньте, як знищують ворога ці термінатори!": ГУР показало відео роботи спецпідрозділу |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/virtuozy-pratsiuie-pidrozdil-hur-kabul-9.html |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine |language=uk}}
22px Defense Intelligence Aviation[https://gur.gov.ua/content/aviatsiia-voiennoi-rozvidky-ukrainy-vykonuie-boiovi-zavdannia-na-perednomu-krai-oborony.html Авіація воєнної розвідки України виконує бойові завдання на передньому краї оборони]
22x22px Special Purpose UAV Unit "Wings"{{Cite news |date=20 January 2023 |title=Спецпідрозділ "Крила" запускає проект створення флотилії FPV дронів |trans-title=Special Unit "Wings" Launches Project to Create a Flotilla of FPV Drones |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/spetspidrozdil-kryla-zapuskaie-proekt-stvorennia-flotylii-fpv-droniv.html |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=Main Directorate of Intelligence |language=uk}}
22px Special Purpose USV Unit "Group 13"{{Cite web |title=Group 13 Is Hunters for russian Ships |url=https://gur.gov.ua/en/content/group-13-myslyvtsi-za-rosiiskymy-korabliamy.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=gur.gov.ua}}{{Cite web |last=Pleitgen |first=Joseph Ataman, Frederik |date=2024-02-05 |title=A Ukrainian pilot outlines how drones powered by jet skis sunk a Russian warship |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/05/europe/ukraine-drone-jet-skis-russian-warship-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=CNN |language=en}}
22px International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine is a specialized unit part of the International Legion and HUR MO, comprising primarily ex-military volunteers from over 50 countries. They have participated in key battles across Ukraine, notably Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sievierodonetsk and Bakhmut. The DIU Legion operates with significant autonomy and relies heavily on self-funding for mission essential equipment.{{Cite web |title=International Legion |url=https://legion-diu.org/en |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=International Legion of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine}}{{Cite web |title=Ronin Team |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C8cbVeGqXHH/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |website=Instagram}}
Tactical Group "Athena"{{Cite web |title=Tactical Group Athena |url=https://t.me/s/tg_athena_gur?before=56 |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Telegram}}
Ronin Team sniper and reconnaissance company.

Legal basis

The Main Directorate of Intelligence is legally allowed to operate based upon the following documents:{{Cite web |title=Нормативно-правова база діяльності |url=https://gur.gov.ua/content/legal-base.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Main Directorate of intelligence |language=uk}}

The Constitution of Ukraine
Law of Ukraine "On the National Security of Ukraine", 1991
Law of Ukraine "On the Defense of Ukraine", 2018
Law of Ukraine "On Intelligence", 2020
Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service", 1992
Law of Ukraine "On Central Bodies of Executive Power", 2011
Law of Ukraine "On Civil Service", 2015
Law of Ukraine "On International Treaties of Ukraine", 2004
Law of Ukraine "On the Fight Against Terrorism", 2003
Law of Ukraine "On Counter-Intelligence Activities", 2002
Law of Ukraine "On Operational and Investigative Activities", 1992
Law of Ukraine "On State Secrets", 1994
Law of Ukraine "On the Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Their Families", 1991
Presidential Decree "On the National Security Strategy of Ukraine", 2020
Presidential Decree "On the Military Security Strategy of Ukraine", 2021
Presidential Decree "On Additional Measures to Further Democratize Society and Strengthen Civil Control Over the Activities of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies of Ukraine", 2004
Presidential Decree "On Ensuring Control over the Activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Other Military Formations", 2010
Presidential Decree "On Strengthening Control over the Activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Other Military Formations", 2015
Presidential Decree "On the Inter-Agency Commission on the Policy of Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control", 2007
Presidential Decree "On Certain Issues of Leadership in the Spheres of National Security and Defense", 2008
Presidential Decree "On the Regulation of Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Citizens of Ukraine", 2008

Directors

Lieutenant General Oleksandr Skipalskyi (October 16, 1992 – June 9, 1997)

:Born in Volyn Oblast 1945. Graduated from the KGB Higher School in 1975.

Colonel General Ihor Smeshko (June 9, 1997 – September 29, 2000)

:Born in Cherkasy Oblast 1955. Graduated from PhD from the National Academy of Defence in 2000.

Colonel General Viktor Paliy (September 29, 2000 – March 13, 2003)

:Born in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast 1949. Graduated from the Military Academy of General Staff of USSR Armed Forces in 1988.

Colonel (ret.) Oleksandr Halaka (March 13, 2003 – January 17, 2008)

:Born in Kharkiv 1955. Graduated from the Military Academy of Ground Forces Air-Defence in 1987 and the Kyiv University in 2000.

Lieutenant General Viktor Hvozd (January 17, 2008 – August 17, 2010)

:Born in Ternopil Oblast 1959. Graduated from the Frunze Military College (Kyiv, 1981), Lviv University (1997), Magistrate of Kyiv University of Law and Economics (2005), Military-Diplomatic Academy (2009).

Major General Serhiy Hmyza (August 17, 2010 – February 26, 2014)

:Born in Odesa Oblast 1960. Graduated Military College in 1981, the Military-Diplomatic Academy in 1991, Ukrainian State University in 2008.

Major General Yuriy Pavlov (since March 3, 2014 – July 28, 2015)

:Born in Lviv Oblast 1962.

Lieutenant General Valeriy Kondratyuk (July 28, 2015 – October 15, 2016{{Cite web |url=http://ukropnews24.com/poroshenko-appointed-head-of-intelligence-of-the-mou-kondratyuk-deputy-head-of-the-ap/ |title=Poroshenko appointed head of intelligence of the MOU Kondratyuk, Deputy head of the AP |website=Ukrop News 24 |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026080759/http://ukropnews24.com/poroshenko-appointed-head-of-intelligence-of-the-mou-kondratyuk-deputy-head-of-the-ap/ |url-status=dead }})

: Born in Taraz, Kazakhstan

Major General Vasyl Burba (since October 15, 2016[http://www.unian.info/society/1588351-president-presents-new-chief-of-military-intel.html President presents new chief of military intel], UNIAN (25 October 2016)
[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/378813.html Poroshenko: New intel chief to give fresh impetus to military intelligence in Ukraine], Interfax-Ukraine (25 October 2016) – August 5, 2020)

:Born in Rivne Oblast 1978.