Kraken Regiment
Country: Ukraine
Domain: Special operations unit
Owner: Main Directorate of Intelligence
Ukrainian military special operations unit formed on 24 February 2022 in Kharkiv — the same day as Russia's full-scale invasion — by Azov veterans and civilian volunteers under HUR (Main Directorate of Intelligence). Commanded by Kostiantyn Nemichev, it defended Kharkiv in the war's opening days, dismantled the Georgy Zhukov monument in April 2022, and played a key role in the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive. Operating with Western small arms, the regiment has conducted reconnaissance, sabotage, and assault operations across eastern Ukraine, with an estimated 1,800 personnel.
