Berkut (special police force)
The Berkut (Ukrainian: Беркут, Russian: Бе́ркут, Byerkut; "golden eagle" ) was the Ukrainian system of special police (riot police) of the Ukrainian Militsiya within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The agency was formed in 1992, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as the successor to the Ukrainian SSR's OMON.
| Special Detachment of Public Security Militsiya "Berkut" (Ukrainian: Cпеціальний підрозділ міліції громадської безпеки «Беркут») (Russian: Подразделение милиции особого назначения «Беркут») | |
|---|---|
Former emblem of the Berkut (1992–2014) | |
| Active | 1992–present |
| Country | Ukraine (1992–2014) Russia (2014–present) |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Role | Close-quarters combat Cold-weather warfare Counterinsurgency Counterterrorism Crowd control Direct action Executive protection High-value target Hostage rescue HUMINT Internal security Irregular warfare Law enforcement Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Riot control Tactical emergency medical services Urban warfare |
| Size | 400 (Russia) |
| Part of | Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs (1992–2014) Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (2014–2016) National Guard of Russia (2016–present) |
| Engagements | 2014 Ukrainian revolution 2014 Crimean crisis 2022 protests in Russian-occupied Ukraine Ukrainian resistance during the Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Insignia | |
| Berkut emblem (Russia) | |
Initially specialized in fighting organized crime, Berkut transitioned into a gendarmerie used by the Ukrainian Militsiya for public security, operating semi-autonomously at the local or regional level. The term "Berkut" came to be used for any professional special police unit in Ukraine. Prior to the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the Berkut had a history of illegal activities against Ukrainian citizens, such as racketeering, terrorism, physical violence, torture, anti-Ukrainian sentiment, voter intimidation and other secret police tactics against those who would elect non-Yanukovych candidates. It committed violence against protesters during Euromaidan and the Orange Revolution. After the revolution, the new government held the Berkut responsible for most of the Heavenly Hundred civilian deaths. Acting Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov dissolved the agency on 25 February 2014, replacing it with the National Guard of Ukraine.
In March 2014, Berkut units stationed in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol defected to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs during the annexation of Crimea by Russia, after the territories were approved as federal subjects.A There, the Berkut effectively became a Russian agency. Units were allowed to preserve their old name and now serve within the National Guard of Russia as the gendarmerie for Crimea.