Rapid Operational Response Unit

Rapid Operational Response Unit
Корпус Оперативно-Раптової Дії
Korpus Operatyvno-Raptovoyi Diyi
Active2016–present
Country Ukraine
AgencyNational Police of Ukraine
TypePolice tactical unit
Common nameKORD
Notables
Significant operation(s)Russian invasion of Ukraine
Website
kord.np.gov.ua

The Rapid Operational Response Unit (Ukrainian: Корпус Оперативно-Раптової Дії, romanized: Korpus Operatyvno-Raptovoyi Diyi), commonly abbreviated KORD (Ukrainian: КОРД), is a special purpose unit of the National Police of Ukraine. It is designed to respond to emergency situations, the level of which is so high and complex that it may exceed the capabilities of other rapid reaction forces or operational search units.

Its structure is based on SWAT units in various American police forces.[1]

History

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KORD was created as a special police force for the then-recently created National Police of Ukraine. Recruitment and training started in 2015 and in 2016 the first units were formed.[2] KORD received training from special police units from the United States, specially from the DEA and US Marshals.[3] Support was overseen by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.[4]

KORD conducted its training exercise on November 3, 2016 at Boryspil International Airport with the State Border Guard Service's Dozor unit.[5]

The unit participated in anti-terrorist Operations in Eastern Ukraine.[6]

KORD has been involved in fighting in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine,[7] where the Kyiv KORD units ambushed Russian tanks and BMPs at the Kyiv offensive and at Brovary.[8] For their actions, the KORD operators were awarded military awards by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[9]

In the summer of 2024, KORD was reformed into a Special Purpose Police Brigade, taking advantage of its current military role while retaining police ranking and uniforms with operational control over units organized in the cities.[citation needed] The KORD Brigade will be organized on military lines with its own formations directly reporting to brigade headquarters.

Missions

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KORD embroidered patch

Among the main missions of KORD are:[10][11]

  • Developing, preparing, and conducting special operations to capture dangerous criminals
  • Suppressing crimes committed by members of criminal groups
  • Rescuing hostages
  • Providing force support in the conduct of operative-search actions
  • Providing support to other police units to ensure superior firepower over offenders
  • Taking part in anti-terrorist operations conducted by the Anti-terrorist Centre of the Security Service of Ukraine
  • Studying and summarizing domestic and foreign experience, as well as the methods of work of similar foreign units in this area
  • Ensuring the implementation of security measures for persons involved in criminal proceedings

Organization

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KORD anti-terrorist training.

KORD's main headquarters is in Kyiv with various regions having a regional office.[4]

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  • KORD features in the opening scenes of Tenet (2020), during a terrorist attack at a Kyiv opera.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://popcenter.asu.edu/sites/default/files/a_new_policing_model_in_ukraine.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "Розпочався другий етап відбору до КОРДу". YouTube. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. ^ Цензор.НЕТ (15 October 2015). "Американские инструкторы-спецназовцы тренируют спецподразделение МВД "Сокол". ФОТОрепортаж". Цензор.НЕТ (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  4. ^ a b https://ua.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/151/SOW-Steel-Targets-for-KORD-regions-UPD.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "Arsen Avakov: Special force units of the National Police and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine completed large-scale exercises and showed excellent combat cohesion (PHOTO, VIDEO)".
  6. ^ "Аброськін: Порядок у Красногорівці охоронятиме КОРД". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  7. ^ Ponomarenko, Illia [@IAPonomarenko] (13 March 2022). "Russian POWs again. КОРД is a Ukrainian police special operations force. https://t.co/N0zRDRqXq6" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Rapid Operational Response Unit destroys Russian tanks in the Kyiv region's Brovary district". Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  9. ^ "Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded KORD fighters who protect Ukrainians and maintain law and order in the conditions of the Russian invasion". President of Ukraine. 19 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Про затвердження Положення про підрозділи поліції особливого призначення «Корпус оперативно-раптової дії"". zakon.rada.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  11. ^ "Про затвердження Положення про підрозділи поліції особливого призначення". zakon.rada.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  12. ^ "От "Перевозчика" до "Тенета": 8 голливудских фильмов, в которых вспомнили Украину". 24 Канал (in Russian). 11 March 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
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