The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (), also known in English as the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), is the

military intelligence Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis List of intelligence gathering disciplines, approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist Commanding officer, commanders in decision making pr ...

service of the Ukrainian government. It is an agency of the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

, not the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

History

The agency was established from the existing intelligence assets of the

Kyiv Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

Odesa Odesa, also spelled Odessa, is the third most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern ...

and Carpathian military districts of the

Soviet Armed Forces The Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also known as the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, the Red Army (1918–1946) and the Soviet Army (1946–1991), were the armed forces of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republi ...

and its Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), following the

dissolution of the Soviet Union The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Declaration No. 142-Н of ...

and the independence of Ukraine. The Intelligence Directorate of the General Headquarters of the

Armed Forces of Ukraine The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are the Military, military forces of Ukraine. All military and security forces, including the Armed Forces, are under the command of the president of Ukraine and subject to oversight by a permanent Verkhovna Rad ...

was established in February 1992. Based on a presidential decree issued on September 7, 1992, the Strategic Military Intelligence Directorate of the

was created. The existence of two separate agencies with similar responsibilities, and reporting to different authorities, hampered the development of an effective military intelligence system. On July 6, 1993, the Decree of the President of Ukraine ordered the merging of the two agencies to form the Main Military Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence. It was renamed the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, or Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) for short, on April 4, 1994. On March 22, 2001, the Ukrainian parliament (Rada) ratified the Law of Ukraine "On Intelligence Agencies of Ukraine". The HUR was given the status of special government authority. On August 18, 2021, HUR special forces moved on Il-76MDs from the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force and flew to

Kabul Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...

with the mission of evacuating citizens of Ukraine and foreigners during the 2021 Kabul airlift. In total, the aircraft of the brigade made six flights and transported more than 700 citizens of different countries. Special forces went to Kabul three times a day to find and bring citizens who were to be evacuated to the Kabul airport. On September 20, 2023, CNN reported that Ukrainian special forces were likely behind multiple attacks on

Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

-backed

Rapid Support Forces The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; ) is a paramilitary force formerly operated by the government of Sudan. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which previously fought on behalf of the Sudanese government. RSF ...

(RSF) forces in Sudan, using DJI Mavic 3 and first-person view (FPV) drones. In May 2023, HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov vowed to “destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world, wherever they are.” In March 2024, reports confirmed that HUR operators from the "Timur" unit were actively fighting Wagner and RSF in Sudan. On January 30, 2024, the DIU received a Snatch Land Rover SUV for its personnel from volunteers of the British-Ukrainian society "Driving Ukraine". On 2 May 2025, a Ukrainian HUR MAGURA V5 naval drone shot down a Russian Su-30 using a R-73 missile, 50 km west of Novorossiysk. The crew of two ended up in the Black Sea, where a civilian ship later recovered them. HUR claimed it was the first time a maritime drone shot down an aircraft.

Emblem

In 2016, the HUR emblem was changed to an illustration of an owl plunging a sword into Russia. The owl has been said to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the emblem of the

Spetsnaz SpetsnazThe term is borrowed from rus, спецназ, p=spʲɪtsˈnas; abbreviation for or 'Special Purpose Military Units'; or () are special forces in many post-Soviet states. Historically, this term referred to the Soviet Union's Spet ...

special forces of the Russian

GRU Gru is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the ''Despicable Me'' film series. Gru or GRU may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * Gru (rapper), Serbian rapper * Gru, an antagonist in '' The Kine Saga'' Organizations Georgia (c ...

, which depicts a bat - a natural prey of the owl. In addition, the motto "The wise will rule over the stars" () ostensibly alludes to the GRU's motto "Only the stars are above us" (). The new emblem was met with outrage from Russian journalists and politicians, including Dmitry Rogozin, and with some calling it a provocation.

Spheres of activity

The Main Directorate of Intelligence conducts its activity in the military, political, technical, economic, signals, informational and environmental spheres. The major missions of the directorate are: * Extracting, analyzing, processing and disseminating information in accordance with the law "On Intelligence" * Conducting measures aimed at promoting the realization of the national interests of Ukraine * Identifying external threats to the national security of Ukraine, and conducting measures against such threats * Participating in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities that pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine * Cooperating with foreign intelligence bodies * Carrying out other activities defined by law to ensure the national security of Ukraine

Organization

The HUR has an executive office and several agency-wide functions, and five major directorates and departments consisting of the following: Directorates: * Strategic Intelligence Directorate * Armed Forces General Staff Intelligence Support Directorate * Information Support Directorate * Personnel Policy Directorate * Logistic Directorate Departments: * Internal Security Department * Planning Department * Automation and Communication Department * Economic and Finance Department * Information and state secret protection Department

Combat formations

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the only field reconnaissance unit of the HUR was a special unit subordinated to the Directorate's 4th Special Intelligence Service (''4-та Служба спеціальної розвідки''): * 10th Separate Special Purpose Unit (''10-й окремий загін спеціального призначення'', A2245), based in Rybalskyi Peninsula, Kyiv ** Battalion HHC ** 3 operational companies – 1st – 3rd Special Purpose Company (''1 – 3 сотня спеціального призначення'') As of 2024, the units subordinate to the HUR include: Reconnaissance units subordinated to

(AFU): * * 54th Reconnaissance Battalion * 74th Recon Battalion

74th Reconnaissance Battalion * Flamberge-shevron

120th Reconnaissance Regiment * 129th Reconnaissance Battalion * 130th Recon Battalion

130th Reconnaissance Battalion * 131st Recon Battalion

131st Reconnaissance Battalion * 132nd Air Assault Reconnaissance Battalion * 140th Separate Recon Battalion

140th Marine Reconnaissance Battalion * 143rd Reconnaissance Battalion

units under AFU operational control: * Batshaman

Shaman Battalion * Kraken Special Unit Insignia

Special Purpose Unit "Kraken" * ArtanHURMO

Artan Unit ** Revanche Tactical Group * Special Purpose Unit "Timur" ** 2nd Special Purpose Detachment

2nd Special Operations Detachment ** Bratstvo Battalion ** NOBODY Battalion ** Stugna Battalion Logo

Stuhna Battalion **

Chimera Unit ** Specpidrozdil aratta

Special Purpose "Aratta" Battalion (formerly the 8th Battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army) **

Black Winter Group **

"Paragon Company" Detachment ** Sonechko battalion

Volunteer Reconnaissance Battalion "Sonechko" ** Special Purpose Unit "Vidar" * Kabul 9 * HUR aviation

Defense Intelligence Aviation ** Special Purpose UAV Unit "Wings" *

Special Purpose USV Unit "Group 13" * LegionDIU

International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine is a specialized unit part of the International Legion and HUR MO, comprising primarily ex-military volunteers from over 50 countries. They have participated in key battles across Ukraine, notably

Kharkiv Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city in Ukraine.

Mykolaiv Mykolaiv ( ), also known as Nikolaev ( ) is a List of cities in Ukraine, city and a hromada (municipality) in southern Ukraine. Mykolaiv is the Administrative centre, administrative center of Mykolaiv Raion (Raions of Ukraine, district) and Myk ...

Kherson Kherson (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian and , , ) is a port city in southern Ukraine that serves as the administrative centre of Kherson Oblast. Located by the Black Sea and on the Dnieper, Dnieper River, Kherson is the home to a major ship-bui ...

Zaporizhzhia Zaporizhzhia, formerly known as Aleksandrovsk or Oleksandrivsk until 1921, is a city in southeast Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. It is the Capital city, administrative centre of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Zaporizhzhia ...

, Sievierodonetsk and Bakhmut. The DIU Legion operates with significant autonomy and relies heavily on self-funding for mission essential equipment. ** Tactical Group "Athena" ** ''Ronin Team'' sniper and reconnaissance company.

Legal basis

The Main Directorate of Intelligence is legally allowed to operate based upon the following documents: * The

Constitution of Ukraine The Constitution of Ukraine (, ) is the fundamental law of Ukraine. The constitution was adopted and ratified at the 5th session of the ''Verkhovna Rada'', the parliament of Ukraine, on 28 June 1996. The constitution was passed with 315 ayes o ...

* Law of Ukraine "On the National Security of Ukraine", 1991 * Law of Ukraine "On the Defense of Ukraine", 2018 * Law of Ukraine "On Intelligence", 2020 * Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service", 1992 * Law of Ukraine "On Central Bodies of Executive Power", 2011 * Law of Ukraine "On Civil Service", 2015 * Law of Ukraine "On International Treaties of Ukraine", 2004 * Law of Ukraine "On the Fight Against Terrorism", 2003 * Law of Ukraine "On Counter-Intelligence Activities", 2002 * Law of Ukraine "On Operational and Investigative Activities", 1992 * Law of Ukraine "On State Secrets", 1994 * Law of Ukraine "On the Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Their Families", 1991 * Presidential

Decree A decree is a law, legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, monarch, royal figure, or other relevant Authority, authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislativ ...

"On the National Security Strategy of Ukraine", 2020 * Presidential Decree "On the Military Security Strategy of Ukraine", 2021 * Presidential Decree "On Additional Measures to Further Democratize Society and Strengthen Civil Control Over the Activities of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies of Ukraine", 2004 * Presidential Decree "On Ensuring Control over the Activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Other Military Formations", 2010 * Presidential Decree "On Strengthening Control over the Activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Other Military Formations", 2015 * Presidential Decree "On the Inter-Agency Commission on the Policy of Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control", 2007 * Presidential Decree "On Certain Issues of Leadership in the Spheres of National Security and Defense", 2008 * Presidential Decree "On the Regulation of Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Citizens of Ukraine", 2008

Directors

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Oleksandr Skipalskyi (October 16, 1992 – June 9, 1997) :Born in

Volyn Oblast Volyn Oblast () or simply Volyn (), is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (province) in northwestern Ukraine. It borders Rivne Oblast to the east, Lviv Oblast to the south, Poland to the west and Belarus to the north. Its Capital city ...

1945. Graduated from the KGB Higher School in 1975. *

Colonel General Colonel general is a military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically General officer#Old European system, general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, ...

Ihor Smeshko (June 9, 1997 – September 29, 2000) :Born in Cherkasy Oblast 1955. Graduated from PhD from the National Academy of Defence in 2000. *Colonel General Viktor Paliy (September 29, 2000 – March 13, 2003) :Born in

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (), is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (province) in simultaneously southern, eastern and central Ukraine, the most important industrial region of the country. It was created on February 27, 1932. Dnipropetro ...

1949. Graduated from the Military Academy of General Staff of USSR Armed Forces in 1988. *

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

(ret.) Oleksandr Halaka (March 13, 2003 – January 17, 2008) :Born in

Kharkiv Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city in Ukraine.

1955. Graduated from the Military Academy of Ground Forces Air-Defence in 1987 and the Kyiv University in 2000. *Lieutenant General Viktor Hvozd (January 17, 2008 – August 17, 2010) :Born in

Ternopil Oblast Ternopil Oblast (), also referred to as Ternopilshchyna () or Ternopillia (), is an Oblasts of Ukraine, oblast (province) of Ukraine. Its Capital (political), administrative center is Ternopil, through which flows the Seret (river), Seret, a tribu ...

1959. Graduated from the Frunze Military College (Kyiv, 1981), Lviv University (1997), Magistrate of Kyiv University of Law and Economics (2005), Military-Diplomatic Academy (2009). * Major General Serhiy Hmyza (August 17, 2010 – February 26, 2014) :Born in

Odesa Oblast Odesa Oblast (), also referred to as Odeshchyna (Одещина), is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (province) of southwestern Ukraine, located along the northern coast of the Black Sea. Its administrative centre is the city of Ode ...

1960. Graduated Military College in 1981, the Military-Diplomatic Academy in 1991, Ukrainian State University in 2008. *Major General Yuriy Pavlov (since March 3, 2014 – July 28, 2015) :Born in

Lviv Oblast Lviv Oblast (, ), also referred to as Lvivshchyna (, ), is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast in western Ukraine. The capital city, capital of the oblast is the city of Lviv. The current population is History Name The region is named ...

1962. *Lieutenant General Valeriy Kondratyuk (July 28, 2015 – October 15, 2016) : Born in Taraz,

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...

*Major General Vasyl Burba (since October 15, 2016President presents new chief of military intel

UNIAN The Ukrainian Independent Information Agency of News () is a Kyiv-based Ukraine, Ukrainian news agency. It produces and provides political, business and financial information, and a photo reporting service. As of October 2022, it was the most v ...

(25 October 2016)
Poroshenko: New intel chief to give fresh impetus to military intelligence in Ukraine

Interfax-Ukraine Interfax-Ukraine () is a Ukrainian news agency. Founded in 1992, the company publishes in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German. The company owns a 50-seat press centre. The staff of the agency is 105 people (as of the end of February 2022) ...

(25 October 2016) – August 5, 2020) :Born in Rivne Oblast 1978. * Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov (since August 5, 2020) :Born in

1986.

Notable members

* Maksym Shapoval * Andriy Yusov, the head of public relations

Notes

References

External links

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
gov.ua {{Ukraine topics 1992 establishments in Ukraine Government agencies established in 1992 Military intelligence agencies Ministry of Defence (Ukraine) Ukrainian intelligence agencies