In the Kharkiv Region, the Ukrainian special unit “KRAKEN” got armed with Alvis 4 armored vehicles.

The photo capturing the armored vehicles used by the unit was published by Ukrainian politician Yuriy Mysyahin.

The transferred armored vehicles received were marked with the Ukrainian flags and symbols of the “KRAKEN” special unit.

This special unit is fighting against the Russian troops in the Kharkiv Region.

After the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, activists associated with the Azov regiment began to form the volunteer detachments.

The special unit “KRAKEN” was one of such military formations. Its commanders are Kostiantyn Nemichev and Serhii Velychko. The latter is also known by the callsign “Chile.”

Both commanders are from Kharkiv and served in the Azov regiment. After discharge, they got engaged in civic activities.

The KRAKEN special unit uses the mythical sea creature Kraken in its symbolism.

Alvis 4

The Alvis 4 armored vehicles arrived in Ukraine in May 2022 from Estonia.

This type of armored vehicle was deployed in the peacekeeping operations in South Africa and Kosovo.

At first glance, the armored personnel carrier appears as a bulky but ordinary armored personnel carrier. It was developed not only as an ordinary APC but also as a mine-proof vehicle for operations in areas where landmines are possibly used.

It was developed after a series of mine protection vehicles specifically designed to fight in the anti-mine warfare conditions that once prevailed along the borders of South Africa and in former Rhodesia.

It has an armored floorplan with inclined plates designed to repel a strong explosion from the vehicle.

The steel upper part of the hull can be armored basically according to the highest standards but is usually only resistant to fire from small arms and shrapnel.

Inside the cabin, the commander and the driver sit side by side, and the soldiers sit in close proximity from the rear side; the entrance to all sit positions is through the rear door.

The commander has a hatch in the roof, over which a machine gun can be installed if necessary.

All passengers are provided with bulletproof windows.