Rapid Operational Response Unit

Rapid Operational Response Unit Brigade
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 2026 Kyiv mass shooting
Website
kord.np.gov.ua

The Rapid Operational Response Unit (Ukrainian: Корпус Оперативно-Раптової Дії, romanized: Korpus Operatyvno-Raptovoyi Diyi), commonly abbreviated KORD (КОРД), is a special purpose unit of the National Police of Ukraine.

History

KORD was created as a special police force for the then-recently created National Police of Ukraine, which replaced the former Militsiya. It was established as a successor to the Berkut special police units, which had been part of the former Militsiya and was disbanded following the Euromaidan. Recruitment and training started in 2015 and in 2016 the first units were formed. KORD received training from special police units from the United States, specially from the DEA and US Marshals. Support was overseen by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

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

Organisation

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

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

Reforms

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.

The KORD Brigade will be organized on military lines with its own formations directly reporting to brigade headquarters.

Equipment

Weapons

KORD uses the HK MP5 as its main submachine gun since March 2019.

In March 2022, KORD acquired the TS.M.308.

Vehicles

In February 2022, KORD received Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles and small arms equipment from the US Embassy. In 2023, the unit received Kozak MRAPs.

Missions

KORD embroidered patch

Among the main missions of KORD are:

KORD anti-terrorist training.

Engagements

KORD participated in anti-terrorist Operations in Eastern Ukraine.

KORD has been involved in fighting in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, where the Kyiv units ambushed Russian tanks and BMPs at the Kyiv offensive and at Brovary.

For their actions, the KORD operators were awarded military awards by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Elements of the units also operate away from the frontlines. In December 2023, KORD aprehended a criminal arms dealing organization in Dnipro. July 2024, alongside agents of the national police, they arrested a criminal organization which helped people to Draft dodge in exchange for between 1000 to 15000 dollars.

In 2025, KORD operators have been capture in video fighting at the Battle of Toretsk, supported by a M2 Bradley. In April 2026, they were deployed in response to the mass shooting in Kyiv.

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

References

  1. ↑ "Про визнання такими, що втратили чинність наказів МВС України з питань діяльності СПМГБ "Беркут"". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2026-08-14.
  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. 1 2 "STATEMENT OF WORK" (PDF). ua.usembassy.gov. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  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. ↑ "National police of Ukraine - Main projects" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-20.
  7. ↑ "National Police forms three combined brigades to participate in combat operations". Militarnyi (Press release). 25 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Голова Нацполіції Іван Вигівський перевірив підготовку новостворених стрілецьких бригад" [The head of the National Police, Ivan Vyhivskyi, checked the training of the newly created rifle brigades]. National Police of Ukraine (Press release) (in Ukrainian). 25 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  9. ↑ https://www.kyivpost.com/post/7391
  10. ↑ https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/bitsya-kordu-nagorod1yly-snajperskoyi-gvyntivkoyu-ts-m-308/
  11. ↑ "U.S. handed over vehicles and equipment to the National Police of Ukraine special unit - Militarnyi". mil.in.ua. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  12. ↑ Вадим, Лубчак (2023-11-13). ""Kord" was reinforced with Kozak armored cars: what tasks will the new equipment perform". Freedom. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  13. ↑ "Про затвердження Положення про підрозділи поліції особливого призначення «Корпус оперативно-раптової дії". zakon.rada.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  14. ↑ "Про затвердження Положення про підрозділи поліції особливого призначення". zakon.rada.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  15. ↑ "Аброськін: Порядок у Красногорівці охоронятиме КОРД". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Rapid Operational Response Unit destroys Russian tanks in the Kyiv region's Brovary district". Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ Post, Kyiv. "Arms Dealing Gang Detained in Dnipro - Nearly $6 Million Seized". www.kyivpost.com. Archived from the original on 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  20. ↑ "Police uncover draft-dodging scheme in Ternopil Oblast with monthly turnover up to $150,000 – photos". LIGA.net. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  21. ↑ "Ukrainian forces dislodge Russian assault group from enterprise in Toretsk". www.ukrinform.net. 2025-01-31. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  22. ↑ "От "Перевозчика" до "Тенета": 8 голливудских фильмов, в которых вспомнили Украину". 24 Канал (in Russian). 11 March 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-02.