Azərbaycanca
Deutsch
English
Français
Русский
ภาษาไทย
Українська
This article has an unclear citation style. (February 2025) |
The International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (MUN A3449) is a separate brigade level unit of foreign fighters subordinated to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The unit consists of several foreign units structured at various levels, typically being structured as either a battalion, or a squadron split into several teams functioning completely separate from the regular Ukrainian International Legion, under the HUR MO operationally.
| International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine | |
|---|---|
 Legion insignia | |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Allegiance |  Ministry of Defence |
| Branch |  Main Directorate of Intelligence |
| Type | Spetsnaz and International Volunteer Legion |
| Role | Reconnaissance, counteroffensive and sabotage |
| Part of |  Main Directorate of Intelligence (administratively) |
| Motto(s) | Uniting Professionals for Solving Extreme Tasks |
| Engagements |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major Vadym Popyk |
| Insignia | |
| Patch |  |
History
The legion has participated in the Battle of Kyiv, Battle of Mykolaiv, Battle of Sievierodonetsk, Battle of Lysychansk, Southern Ukraine campaign, 2022 Kherson counteroffensive and Battle of Bakhmut amongst many more combat operations.
During the Battle of Mykolaiv, Russians discovered a position of the legion and heavily shelled it, others were evacuated and they were left alone to fend for themselves and hold the defenses. Due to the incompetence of legion commanders, an American volunteer Scott Sibley was killed and three were severely wounded. Just as one detachment was able to leave the position, another was sent there despite resistance by the legionnaires, again four volunteers were killed, several more were wounded, and one American volunteer Andrew Hill was captured and faces a possible execution, all due to the command's incompetence. At first, the Brazilian unit spent two weeks in demining operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In early June 2022, a few days into the mission, they were suddenly shifted to take part in the Battle of Sievierodonetsk, completely unprepared, not even knowing the positions of friendly troops, the planning was done without coordination with other units.
Due to a lack of communication and incompetence by the high command, a Brazilian legionnaire was killed and many more including the Brazilian Platoon leader were wounded, almost the entire platoon resigned as a result of the command's incompetence. During the Battle of Lysychansk, legionnaires were ordered by the command to loot a local shopping mall stealing valuables including furniture, shoes, women's clothes, jewelry, watches and electronics, many soldiers resisted the others and many were forced to comply. In November 2022, the legion participated in the 2022 Kherson counteroffensive.
In October 2024, the legion was involved in a special operation during the 2024 Kharkiv offensive.
Tasks
The tasks of the Legion include combat missions in air, land, and water. It operates separately and independently from the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, under a different command structure, with different techniques, tactics, and procedures. It is bound and obligated to adhere to the highest standards of the requirements of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Manual of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and all international laws signed by Ukraine.
Commanders
Officially, the Legion is run by Major Vadym Popyk but Major Taras Vashuk, Vashuk's uncle (also Taras) and Sasha Kuchynsky constitute the top command of the legion.
Structure
| Patch | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | A3449 | The HUR unit which oversees and aids the operations of the following units. |
 | 1st Squadron of International Legion | Linear Unit |
 | 2nd Squadron of International Legion | |
| 3rd Squadron of International Legion | ||
 | Freedom of Russia Legion | Volunteers are former servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as other Russians and Belarusians volunteers living in Ukraine. |
 | Russian Volunteer Corps | Volunteers from the Russian diaspora, more radical, ideological, and further right politically than the FRL. Led by Denis Kapustin. |
 | Karelian Group | Formed in 2023, consists of Karelians. The Battalion is a part of the Karelian National Movement. |
 | Sibir Battalion | Consists largely of indigenous Russian volunteers, whose end goal is their peoples' independence from the Russian Federation. |
 | Belarusian Volunteer Corps | Consists of Belarusians. Includes the Terror Battalion. |
 | Polish Volunteer Corps | Polish volunteers affiliated to the RVC. |
 | German Volunteer Corps | German volunteers affiliated to the RVC. |
 | Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment | Unit of Belarusian volunteers formed during the 2014 War in Donbas, maintains close ties with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian opposition. |
 | Georgian Legion | Unit of Georgian volunteers formed during the 2014 War in Donbas, led by Mamuka Mamulashvili. |
 | Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion | One of several Chechen volunteer armed formations fighting on the side of Ukraine. The battalion is named after the first President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Dzhokhar Dudayev. Their commander is Adam Osmayev. |
 | One of several Chechen volunteer armed formations. The battalion was created in honor of one of the most respected Chechen commanders of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Khamzat Gelayev. Many of its members are veterans from Gelayev's special forces. | |
|
| Ichkerian Special Purpose Battalion | One of several Chechen volunteer armed formations. The battalion is subordinate to the Ministry of Defence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Consists of Chechen veterans of the Chechen wars as well as the Syrian civil-war. |
 | Imam Shamil Dagestan Battalion | Consists of members of the several ethnic groups of Dagestan. |
 | NOMAD Unit | Composed of Indigenous people of various ethnic groups of the Russian federation |
Support units of the legion include:
- Intelligence group "GrecCompany"
- Tactical Group "Athena"
- Ronin Team Sniper and Reconnaissance Company
- Snake Medical Service
- Active Action Squad
- Delta Knights Squad
Personnel
The Legion is composed of fighters, mostly veterans from all over the world. As of 7 March 2022, volunteers and veterans from 52 countries around the world, totaling over 20,000 people, had expressed their desire to join the Legion, mostly experienced fighters who had participated in many peacekeeping campaigns throughout the world. Most volunteers were from Poland, Scotland, Greece, Brazil, Colombia, the United States, Georgia, Norway, Australia and New Zealand. According to Kyiv Independent, this unit numbered up to 500 people and constituted approximately a third as company to the Foreign Legion.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Від 18-річних до спецпризначенців: як Міжнародний легіон ГУР вербує іноземців on YouTube // DW Ukrainian. — 2024 |
Controversies
The legion has been subjected to many controversies such as sexual abuse against female personnel of the legion, suicide missions, warcrimes, looting and many more.
Officially, the Legion is commanded by Major Vadym Popyk but actually Major Taras Vashuk, Vashuk's uncle (also Taras) and Sasha Kuchynsky exert a massive influence over the legion. The legionnaires have accused the trio of having conducted many crimes including incompetence and sending the soldiers for suicide missions. During the Battle of Mykolaiv, Russians discovered a position of the legion and heavily shelled it, others were evacuated and they were left alone to fend for themselves and hold the defenses. Due to the incompetence of legion commanders, an American volunteer Scott Sibley was killed and three were severely wounded. Just as one detachment was able to leave the position, another was sent there despite resistance by the legionnaires, again four volunteers were killed, several more were wounded, and one American volunteer Andrew Hill was captured and faces a possible execution, all due to the command's incompetence. At first, the Brazilian unit spent two weeks in demining operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In early June 2022, a few days into the mission, they were suddenly shifted to take part in the Battle of Sievierodonetsk, completely unprepared, not even knowing the positions of friendly troops, the planning was done without coordination with other units. Due to a lack of communication and incompetence by the high command, a Brazilian legionnaire was killed and many more including the Brazilian Platoon leader were wounded, almost the entire platoon resigned as a result of the command's incompetence. During the Battle of Lysychansk, legionnaires were ordered by the command to loot a local shopping mall stealing valuables including furniture, shoes, women's clothes, jewelry, watches and electronics, many soldiers resisted the others and many were forced to comply.
An American Jewish volunteer, alleged that the command of the legion was antisemitic and discriminated against Jewish personnel.
Kuchynsky was reported to have tried to confiscate personal equipment from the legionnaires and even pointing guns at the personnel.
Kuchynsky also sexually harassed female medics in their unit, causing a few medics to leave the unit and the country and was constantly being covered up by other members of the high command.
It was even reported that Sasha Kuchynsky was not even the actual name but it was Piotr Kapuscinski, a former major Polish criminal who fled Poland in 2014 and emerged in October 2016 in Ukraine for committing sexual assault and aggravated robbery for which he faced jail time. In 2017, Poland requested his extradition but was refused. In May 2021, he was arrested for the illegal possession of a semi-automatic pistol and explosives facing seven years in prison but was released on bail. He volunteered to join the military in February 2022. He was once detained and questioned by the Security Service of Ukraine for drawing a gun on an American soldiers and then by the Military Prosecution Office for power, fraud, and assault.
The command has been known to misuse donated equipment, keeping a part for themselves and even selling some of the equipment to soldiers in order to get money. This corruption even led to two soldiers losing their hearing as a result for not having been able to obtain headphones that were kept in the armory but not provided to the soldiers.
References
- "International Legion". International Legion of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- "Посилають на смерть і погрожують: іноземні легіонери скаржаться на керівництво розвідки в Україні – ЗМІ". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- "Suicide missions, abuse, physical threats: International Legion fighters speak out against leadership's misconduct". Kyiv Independent. 17 August 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- "Іноземні легіонери-розвідники скаржаться на зловживання керівництва, – розслідування Kyiv Independent". texty.org.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- "Активно деокупувати Херсонщину допомагає Інтернаціональний Легіон ГУР". armyinform.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- Свобода, Радіо (16 October 2024). "«Зачистили 400 гектарів лісу»: ГУР повідомляє про операцію на півночі Харківщини". Радіо Свобода. Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 3 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- "International Legion". legion-diu.org. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- Cole, Brendan (30 March 2022). "Former Russian Soldiers Join Ukraine Against Putin's Invasion, Kyiv Says". Newsweek. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- Закревская, София (21 January 2023). "Карельские националисты создали батальон в составе ВСУ и пообещали бороться за освобождение края от российской оккупации". OBOZREVATEL NEWS (in Russian). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- Степанов, Александр (23 January 2023). "Пропагандистский батальон "Карелия" или "Союз меча и орала"" [Propaganda Battalion "Karelia" or "Union of Sword and Plowshare"]. Черника (in Russian). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- "Siberian Battalion: Who are the Russians fighting for Ukraine?". euronews. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- "Chechen and Tatar Muslims take up arms to fight for Ukraine". Deutsche Welle. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- "Архівована копія". Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- "Архівована копія". Archived from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- "Tactical Group Athena". Telegram. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- "Ronin Team". Instagram. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- Архівована копія
- Архівована копія
- Головне управління розвідки МО України (30 October 2024), Головне ― продовжувати боротьбу, і разом ми переможемо, ― легіонер з Норвегії Бекетт, retrieved 6 November 2024
- "Створено спецпідрозділ Інтернаціонального легіону при ГУР МО України, він вже виконує бойові завдання". gur.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- "ГУР опублікував документалку «Інтернаціональний Легіон. Воля без кордонів» про спецпідрозділ іноземців, які воюють за Україну". Контракты.UA (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
Author: www.NiNa.Az
Publication date:
wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library, article, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games, mobile, phone, android, ios, apple, mobile phone, samsung, iphone, xiomi, xiaomi, redmi, honor, oppo, nokia, sonya, mi, pc, web, computer
This article has an unclear citation style The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting February 2025 Learn how and when to remove this message The International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine MUN A3449 is a separate brigade level unit of foreign fighters subordinated to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine The unit consists of several foreign units structured at various levels typically being structured as either a battalion or a squadron split into several teams functioning completely separate from the regular Ukrainian International Legion under the HUR MO operationally International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of UkraineLegion insigniaFounded2022Country UkraineAllegianceMinistry of DefenceBranchMain Directorate of IntelligenceTypeSpetsnaz and International Volunteer LegionRoleReconnaissance counteroffensive and sabotagePart ofMain Directorate of Intelligence administratively Motto s Uniting Professionals for Solving Extreme TasksEngagementsRusso Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Northern Ukraine campaign Battle of Kyiv Eastern Ukraine campaign Battle of Sievierodonetsk Battle of Lysychansk Battle of Bakhmut 2024 Kharkiv offensive Southern Ukraine campaign Battle of Mykolaiv 2022 Kherson counteroffensiveCommandersCurrent commanderMajor Vadym PopykInsigniaPatchHistoryThe legion has participated in the Battle of Kyiv Battle of Mykolaiv Battle of Sievierodonetsk Battle of Lysychansk Southern Ukraine campaign 2022 Kherson counteroffensive and Battle of Bakhmut amongst many more combat operations During the Battle of Mykolaiv Russians discovered a position of the legion and heavily shelled it others were evacuated and they were left alone to fend for themselves and hold the defenses Due to the incompetence of legion commanders an American volunteer Scott Sibley was killed and three were severely wounded Just as one detachment was able to leave the position another was sent there despite resistance by the legionnaires again four volunteers were killed several more were wounded and one American volunteer Andrew Hill was captured and faces a possible execution all due to the command s incompetence At first the Brazilian unit spent two weeks in demining operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast In early June 2022 a few days into the mission they were suddenly shifted to take part in the Battle of Sievierodonetsk completely unprepared not even knowing the positions of friendly troops the planning was done without coordination with other units Due to a lack of communication and incompetence by the high command a Brazilian legionnaire was killed and many more including the Brazilian Platoon leader were wounded almost the entire platoon resigned as a result of the command s incompetence During the Battle of Lysychansk legionnaires were ordered by the command to loot a local shopping mall stealing valuables including furniture shoes women s clothes jewelry watches and electronics many soldiers resisted the others and many were forced to comply In November 2022 the legion participated in the 2022 Kherson counteroffensive In October 2024 the legion was involved in a special operation during the 2024 Kharkiv offensive TasksThe tasks of the Legion include combat missions in air land and water It operates separately and independently from the Ukrainian Foreign Legion under a different command structure with different techniques tactics and procedures It is bound and obligated to adhere to the highest standards of the requirements of the Constitution of Ukraine the Manual of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all international laws signed by Ukraine CommandersOfficially the Legion is run by Major Vadym Popyk but Major Taras Vashuk Vashuk s uncle also Taras and Sasha Kuchynsky constitute the top command of the legion StructurePatch Name Description A3449 The HUR unit which oversees and aids the operations of the following units 1st Squadron of International Legion Linear Unit 2nd Squadron of International Legion 3rd Squadron of International Legion Freedom of Russia Legion Volunteers are former servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces as well as other Russians and Belarusians volunteers living in Ukraine Russian Volunteer Corps Volunteers from the Russian diaspora more radical ideological and further right politically than the FRL Led by Denis Kapustin Karelian Group Formed in 2023 consists of Karelians The Battalion is a part of the Karelian National Movement Sibir Battalion Consists largely of indigenous Russian volunteers whose end goal is their peoples independence from the Russian Federation Belarusian Volunteer Corps Consists of Belarusians Includes the Terror Battalion Polish Volunteer Corps Polish volunteers affiliated to the RVC German Volunteer Corps German volunteers affiliated to the RVC Kastus Kalinoŭski Regiment Unit of Belarusian volunteers formed during the 2014 War in Donbas maintains close ties with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Belarusian opposition Georgian Legion Unit of Georgian volunteers formed during the 2014 War in Donbas led by Mamuka Mamulashvili Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion One of several Chechen volunteer armed formations fighting on the side of Ukraine The battalion is named after the first President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Dzhokhar Dudayev Their commander is Adam Osmayev ru uk One of several Chechen volunteer armed formations The battalion was created in honor of one of the most respected Chechen commanders of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Khamzat Gelayev Many of its members are veterans from Gelayev s special forces Ichkerian Special Purpose Battalion One of several Chechen volunteer armed formations The battalion is subordinate to the Ministry of Defence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Consists of Chechen veterans of the Chechen wars as well as the Syrian civil war Imam Shamil Dagestan Battalion Consists of members of the several ethnic groups of Dagestan NOMAD Unit Composed of Indigenous people of various ethnic groups of the Russian federation Support units of the legion include Intelligence group GrecCompany Tactical Group Athena Ronin Team Sniper and Reconnaissance Company Snake Medical Service Active Action Squad Delta Knights SquadPersonnelThe Legion is composed of fighters mostly veterans from all over the world As of 7 March 2022 volunteers and veterans from 52 countries around the world totaling over 20 000 people had expressed their desire to join the Legion mostly experienced fighters who had participated in many peacekeeping campaigns throughout the world Most volunteers were from Poland Scotland Greece Brazil Colombia the United States Georgia Norway Australia and New Zealand According to Kyiv Independent this unit numbered up to 500 people and constituted approximately a third as company to the Foreign Legion External videosVid 18 richnih do specpriznachenciv yak Mizhnarodnij legion GUR verbuye inozemciv on YouTube DW Ukrainian 2024ControversiesThe legion has been subjected to many controversies such as sexual abuse against female personnel of the legion suicide missions warcrimes looting and many more Officially the Legion is commanded by Major Vadym Popyk but actually Major Taras Vashuk Vashuk s uncle also Taras and Sasha Kuchynsky exert a massive influence over the legion The legionnaires have accused the trio of having conducted many crimes including incompetence and sending the soldiers for suicide missions During the Battle of Mykolaiv Russians discovered a position of the legion and heavily shelled it others were evacuated and they were left alone to fend for themselves and hold the defenses Due to the incompetence of legion commanders an American volunteer Scott Sibley was killed and three were severely wounded Just as one detachment was able to leave the position another was sent there despite resistance by the legionnaires again four volunteers were killed several more were wounded and one American volunteer Andrew Hill was captured and faces a possible execution all due to the command s incompetence At first the Brazilian unit spent two weeks in demining operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast In early June 2022 a few days into the mission they were suddenly shifted to take part in the Battle of Sievierodonetsk completely unprepared not even knowing the positions of friendly troops the planning was done without coordination with other units Due to a lack of communication and incompetence by the high command a Brazilian legionnaire was killed and many more including the Brazilian Platoon leader were wounded almost the entire platoon resigned as a result of the command s incompetence During the Battle of Lysychansk legionnaires were ordered by the command to loot a local shopping mall stealing valuables including furniture shoes women s clothes jewelry watches and electronics many soldiers resisted the others and many were forced to comply An American Jewish volunteer alleged that the command of the legion was antisemitic and discriminated against Jewish personnel Kuchynsky was reported to have tried to confiscate personal equipment from the legionnaires and even pointing guns at the personnel Kuchynsky also sexually harassed female medics in their unit causing a few medics to leave the unit and the country and was constantly being covered up by other members of the high command It was even reported that Sasha Kuchynsky was not even the actual name but it was Piotr Kapuscinski a former major Polish criminal who fled Poland in 2014 and emerged in October 2016 in Ukraine for committing sexual assault and aggravated robbery for which he faced jail time In 2017 Poland requested his extradition but was refused In May 2021 he was arrested for the illegal possession of a semi automatic pistol and explosives facing seven years in prison but was released on bail He volunteered to join the military in February 2022 He was once detained and questioned by the Security Service of Ukraine for drawing a gun on an American soldiers and then by the Military Prosecution Office for power fraud and assault The command has been known to misuse donated equipment keeping a part for themselves and even selling some of the equipment to soldiers in order to get money This corruption even led to two soldiers losing their hearing as a result for not having been able to obtain headphones that were kept in the armory but not provided to the soldiers References International Legion International Legion of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Retrieved 27 February 2024 Posilayut na smert i pogrozhuyut inozemni legioneri skarzhatsya na kerivnictvo rozvidki v Ukrayini ZMI Ukrayinska pravda in Ukrainian Archived from the original on 8 May 2023 Retrieved 8 May 2023 Suicide missions abuse physical threats International Legion fighters speak out against leadership s misconduct Kyiv Independent 17 August 2022 Archived from the original on 8 May 2023 Retrieved 8 May 2023 Inozemni legioneri rozvidniki skarzhatsya na zlovzhivannya kerivnictva rozsliduvannya Kyiv Independent texty org ua in Ukrainian Archived from the original on 15 August 2024 Retrieved 8 May 2023 Aktivno deokupuvati Hersonshinu dopomagaye Internacionalnij Legion GUR armyinform com ua in Ukrainian Archived from the original on 8 May 2023 Retrieved 8 May 2023 Svoboda Radio 16 October 2024 Zachistili 400 gektariv lisu GUR povidomlyaye pro operaciyu na pivnochi Harkivshini Radio Svoboda Radio Liberty Archived from the original on 3 February 2025 Retrieved 9 February 2025 International Legion legion diu org Archived from the original on 18 March 2024 Retrieved 8 May 2023 Cole Brendan 30 March 2022 Former Russian Soldiers Join Ukraine Against Putin s Invasion Kyiv Says Newsweek Retrieved 26 September 2022 Zakrevskaya Sofiya 21 January 2023 Karelskie nacionalisty sozdali batalon v sostave VSU i poobeshali borotsya za osvobozhdenie kraya ot rossijskoj okkupacii OBOZREVATEL NEWS in Russian Retrieved 3 March 2023 Stepanov Aleksandr 23 January 2023 Propagandistskij batalon Kareliya ili Soyuz mecha i orala Propaganda Battalion Karelia or Union of Sword and Plowshare Chernika in Russian Retrieved 3 March 2023 Siberian Battalion Who are the Russians fighting for Ukraine euronews 18 December 2023 Retrieved 15 April 2024 Chechen and Tatar Muslims take up arms to fight for Ukraine Deutsche Welle 24 March 2022 Retrieved 26 September 2022 Arhivovana kopiya Archived from the original on 14 July 2024 Retrieved 14 July 2024 Arhivovana kopiya Archived from the original on 15 August 2024 Retrieved 14 July 2024 Tactical Group Athena Telegram Retrieved 19 July 2024 Ronin Team Instagram Retrieved 29 July 2024 Arhivovana kopiya Arhivovana kopiya Golovne upravlinnya rozvidki MO Ukrayini 30 October 2024 Golovne prodovzhuvati borotbu i razom mi peremozhemo legioner z Norvegiyi Bekett retrieved 6 November 2024 Stvoreno specpidrozdil Internacionalnogo legionu pri GUR MO Ukrayini vin vzhe vikonuye bojovi zavdannya gur gov ua Archived from the original on 14 May 2023 Retrieved 8 May 2023 GUR opublikuvav dokumentalku Internacionalnij Legion Volya bez kordoniv pro specpidrozdil inozemciv yaki voyuyut za Ukrayinu Kontrakty UA in Russian Archived from the original on 8 May 2023 Retrieved 8 May 2023