Kremlin Regiment
Encyclopedia
Federal Protective Service (Russia)
In the Russian Federation, the Federal Protective Service is a federal government agency concerned with the tasks related to the protection of several, mandated by the relevant law, high-ranking state officials, including the President of Russia, as well as certain federal properties...
with the status of a special unit. The regiment ensures the security of the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
and its treasures and guards the highest state officials. Meanwhile in accordance with a federal law of December 8, 1997 "On Immortalizing the Soviet People’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" the regiment maintains a guard of honor
Honor guard
An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
at the eternal flame
Eternal flame
An eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns day and night for an indefinite period. The flame that burned constantly at Delphi was an archaic feature, "alien to the ordinary Greek temple"....
at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Moscow)
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial, dedicated to the Soviet soldiers killed during World War II...
. The regiment is housed in the historic Kremlin Arsenal
Kremlin Arsenal
The Kremlin Arsenal is a former armory built within the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia. Initially constructed in 1736, it has been rebuilt several times. It remains in military use to date, unlike the Kremlin Armoury, another arsenal within the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, which is now a...
.
History
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
in the early 1918, their protection was entrusted to the Red Latvian Riflemen
Latvian Riflemen
This article is about Latvian military formations in World War I and Russian Civil War. For Red Army military formations in World War II see Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions....
, under the command of the Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
's of the Kremlin. In September 1918, the Latvian Riflement left for the fronts of the Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, and replaced in the Kremlin by the cadets of 1st Soviet United Military School of RKKA named after VTSIK that was redeployed into the Kremlin for this purpose.
In October 1935, the officer's school was moved from Kremlin, and a Special Purpose Battalion (since April 8, 1936, Special Purpose Regiment) was created to replace them in the Kremlin guard duty. On January 28, 1936, the battalion - and the Kremlin Garrison (Komendatura Kremlya), to which it was subordinated - were transferred from the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR to the People's Commissariat of the Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the USSR. Thus, it was deemed appropriate to focus such an important area of public safety, in one specific unit, and UKMK and 1st Division NKVD as operational units logged in Narkomat (People's Commissariat) of Internal Affairs. It is important to note that UKMK and 1st Division were separate public safety is not subordinate to each other, which would not prevent them closely cooperate and collaborate in the organization of activities to ensure the public safety.
On April 8, 1936, in accordance with Order No. 122 for the Moscow Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
Garrison, the Special Purpose Battalion was renamed Special Purpose Regiment; this day is considered the birthday of the regiment. However, the Regiment's Day is celebrated annually on May 7.
When the Soviet-German War began in 1941, the units of the Kremlin Garrison were made responsible for defending the Kremlin, where the State Defense Committee and Chief Military Headquarters were located. On June 25, 1941, the Commandant of the Garrison ordered the regiment to reinforce the defenses, and the regiment set up round-the-clock guard on the Kremlin walls. In 1942-1943 four groups of sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s from the Kremlin Regiment were sent to the Western
Soviet Western Front
The Western Front was a Front of the Red Army, one of the Red Army Fronts during the Second World War. This sense of the term is different from the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front usually operates within designated...
and Volkhov
Volkhov
Volkhov is an industrial town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated east of St. Petersburg, on the Volkhov River. Population: -History:...
Fronts. The snipers killed a total of more than 1,200 German soldiers and officers. Meanwhile the regiment lost 97 men during the war. On February 23, 1944 the Kremlin Regiment was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Red Banner
The Soviet government of Russia established the Order of the Red Banner , a military decoration, on September 16, 1918 during the Russian Civil War...
. Three battalions from the regiment took part in the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945
Moscow Victory Parade of 1945
The Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 was a victory parade held by the Soviet army after the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. It took place in the Soviet capital of Moscow, mostly centering around a military parade through Red Square...
on Red Square
Red Square
Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
.
In 1952 the regiment was reorganized into the Separate Special Purpose Regiment. On May 7, 1965 it was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Red Banner
The Soviet government of Russia established the Order of the Red Banner , a military decoration, on September 16, 1918 during the Russian Civil War...
for its military achievements during the Soviet-German War. On May 8, 1967 the regiment took part in the ceremony of unveiling the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Moscow)
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial, dedicated to the Soviet soldiers killed during World War II...
in the Alexander Garden
Alexander Garden
Alexander Gardens was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow, Russia. The park comprises three separate gardens, which stretch along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for between the building of the Moscow Manege and the Kremlin.-History:...
. In 1973 the unit was renamed to the Separate Red Banner Kremlin Regiment. The regiment finally came to be called its current name in accordance with a presidential decree of March 20, 1993.
On May 7, 2006 the regiment gained a new banner. It has also recently acquired special ceremonial uniforms closely modelled on those worn on parade by the infantry of the Russian Imperial Guard until 1914. These are worn in addition to modern style dress uniforms adopted during the final years of the Soviet period. Both types of uniform are in dark green with medium blue facings.
Notable servicemen of Kremlin Regiment
Many notable Russian politicians served in Kremlin regiment including former Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail KasyanovMikhail Kasyanov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasyanov - was the Prime Minister of Russia from May 2000 to February 2004.He is the leader of the People's Democratic Union and an ex-member of the opposition coalition "The Other Russia".-Political career:...
, former head of Russian Secret Service Alexander Korzhakov
Alexander Korzhakov
Alexander Vasilyevich Korzhakov , was a KGB general who served as Boris Yeltsin's bodyguard, confidant, and adviser for 11 years. Member of State Duma at 1997. He was the head of the Presidential Security Service in 1993-1996, State Duma deputy, and retired Lieutenant-general...
and deputy of the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
Andrei Lugovoi
Andrei Lugovoi
Andrey Konstantinovich Lugovoy is a Russian politician and businessman and deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation for the LDPR. He is a former KGB bodyguard and the ex-head of the security firm "Ninth Wave."...
who was indicted by UK authorities on charges of murdering Alexander Litvinenko
Alexander Litvinenko
Alexander Valterovich Litvinenko was an officer who served in the Soviet KGB and its Russian successor, the Federal Security Service ....
.
Component units of the Kremlin Presidential Regiment
- Band of the Kremlin Presidential Regiment
- Two infantry companies
- Historical Infantry Company
- Presidential Regiment Cavalry Escort Squadron
See also
- Federal Protective Service of Russia
- OMONOMONOMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
- Federal Security Service of Russia
- Ninth Chief DirectorateNinth Chief DirectorateThe Ninth Chief Directorate of the KGB was the organization responsible for providing bodyguard services to the principal Communist Party of the Soviet Union leaders and major Soviet government facilities...