Rapid Operational Response Unit


The Rapid Operational Response Unit , commonly abbreviated KORD, 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. 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.
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.
KORD's main headquarters is in Kyiv with various regions having a regional office.

Missions

Among the main missions of KORD are:
  • 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

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

In popular culture

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