Berkut (Ukraine)

The "Berkut" (Ukrainian: Бе́ркут) is the system of special units of the Ukrainian militsiya (police) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ukraine's successor of the Soviet OMON. Currently it is considered to be part of the Militsiya of Public Security. Its full name is "Berkut" Separate Special Assignment Unit(s) of Militsiya. There is a "Berkut" unit in every oblast and every big city of the country. Among the several special police units in Ukraine "Berkut" became a catchall name for all the others.

Etymology

Close up of the Golden Eagle.

The name means golden eagle or Aquila chrysaetos in the Ukrainian language, who is associated with a falconry on big mammals, particularly wolves.

History

The order to organize the OMON (Special Purpose Police Unit) in the Ukrainian SSR was issued on December 28, 1988. The first units were formed in Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Lviv and Donetsk. After the fall of the Soviet Union it was decided to organize such units in every oblast (province) center. On January 16, 1992 the order was issued to create quick reaction force units "Berkut", which was fully implemented by the start of 1993.

Duties

The main duty of the unit is the security of general order or enforcement of civil order such as during any mass public activities (demonstrations, parades, sport or concert events, etc.) or in places of increased criminal activity in fight against the organized crime. Later one of few additional assignments was protection custody of physical person such as witness.

Organization

The Berkut is a reserve unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) and subordinates to the regional (oblast) departments of the MVS. Until 1997 it was under the direct supervision of GUBOZ (Chief Directorate in Fight of Organized Crime). Due to formation of another quick reaction force unit Sokil (Falcon) under GUBOZ, Berkut was later reassigned under the supervision of the Directorate of Public Security of the MVS.

Depending on the region the Berkut's battalions vary in man-power between 50 to 600. Also depending on its dislocation the unit can be commissioned as company or regiment. As of January 2008, the force consists of 2 regiments, 6 separate battalions, and 19 companies totaling 3,250 members. One of the regiments is located in Kiev, while another one in Crimea.

The main distinction of the Berkut agents are their maroon berets (also known as "krapovy beret"), an honorary headgear.

Scope of activity

The Berkut is the Ukrainian successor of the Soviet OMON (Special Purpose Police Unit), responsible for high-risk police operations including hostage crises and riots. Berkut teams participated in many actions of Leonid Kuchma's regime against the opposition (see Orange Revolution).

See also

• OMON (Special Purpose Police Unit)
• Ukraine without Kuchma (UBK), a mass protest campaign that took place in Ukraine in 2000–2001.
• Quick reaction force - compare to quick reaction forces in military units of the US Army.
• Bars
• Omega
• Skorpion