Kremlin Regiment

The Kremlin Regiment (also called The Presidential Regiment, Russian: Кремлëвский полк [Kremlyovskiy polk], Президентский полк [Prezidentskiy polk]) is a unique military regiment, it is a part of the Russian Federal Protective Service with the status of a special unit. The regiment ensures the security of the Kremlin and its treasures and guards the highest state officials. And in accordance with the federal law of December 8, 1997 "On Immortalizing the Soviet People’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", the regiment also maintains a guard of honor at the eternal flame of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The regiment is housed in the historic Kremlin Arsenal.

History
When the leaders of the Soviet Union moved from Petrograd to the Moscow Kremlin in early 1918, their protection was entrusted to the Red Latvian Riflemen, under the command of the Commandant of the Kremlin. In September 1918, the Latvian Riflement left for the fronts of the Civil War, they were replaced by the cadets of the 1st Soviet United Military School of RKKA named after VTSIK that was redeployed into the Kremlin for this purpose.

In October 1935, the officers' academy left the Kremlin and a Special Purpose Battalion was created to replace them on 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 Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the USSR. It is important to note that UKMK and the 1st Division were separate public security units with neither subordinate to the other, which would not prevent them collaborating closely in Kremlin security activities.

On April 8, 1936, in accordance with Order No. 122 for the Moscow Kremlin 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 Great Patriotic 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 snipers from the Kremlin Regiment were sent to the Western and Volkhov Fronts. The snipers killed more than 1,200 German soldiers and officers, losing only 97 men in combat. On February 23, 1944 the Kremlin Regiment was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner. Three battalions from the regiment took part in the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 on Red Square.

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 for its military achievements during the Great Patriotic War. On May 8, 1967 the regiment took part in the unveiling ceremony of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden. In 1973 the unit was renamed the Separate Red Banner Kremlin Regiment. The regiment finally received its current designation in accordance with a presidential decree of March 20, 1993.

On September 2, 2002 on the basis of the 11th Cavalry Regiment (the Moscow Military District movie-making cavalry unit) a cavalry escort unit was formed as part of the Presidential Regiment.

On May 7, 2006 the regiment gained a new regimental color. It has also recently acquired special ceremonial uniforms closely modelled on those worn on parade by the infantry and the cavalry 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 piping, but the shoulder insignia in the historical full dress is different, even through the ranks are just the same.

Notable servicemen of Kremlin Regiment

 * Mikhail Kasyanov, former Prime Minister of Russia
 * Alexander Korzhakov, former head of the Federal Protective Service of Russia and
 * Andrei Lugovoi, deputy of the State Duma who was later indicted by UK authorities on charges of murdering Alexander Litvinenko.

Component units of the Kremlin Presidential Regiment

 * Band of the Kremlin Regiment
 * Regiment HQ
 * 1st Battalion, Kremlin Regiment with 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Companies
 * 2nd Battalion, Kremlin Regiment with 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th companies
 * 3rd Battalion, Kremlin Regiment with:
 * 1st Honor Guard Company
 * 11th Honor Guard Company
 * Automotive company

Presidential Cavalry Escort (former 11th Cavalry Regiment)
 * 10th company
 * 12th company
 * 1st cavalry squadron
 * 2nd Cavalry Squadron
 * Support Squadron


 * 4th Operational reserve Battalion, Kremlin Regiment
 * Operational reserve company
 * Protection Company, Kremlin Regiment