Kathrine Frich
The unit has carried out some of the most complex missions of the war, giving it near-legendary status in Ukraine.
The unit has carried out some of the most complex missions of the war, giving it near-legendary status in Ukraine.
Dawn Raid in Sumy Stops Russian Offensive
At sunrise, Ukraine’s Timur Special Unit launched a deep strike behind Russian lines in the Sumy region.
GUR says the assault destroyed several command centers and “eliminated an entire Russian battalion.”
At least 334 Russian soldiers were killed and more than 550 wounded.
The attack halted Russia’s push in the northeast.
Elite Unit Within Ukraine’s GUR
The Timur Unit is an elite special forces group specializing in ambushes and raids on both land and sea.
It has carried out some of the most complex missions of the war, giving it near-legendary status in Ukraine.
President Zelensky named the unit after its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Timur, whose tactics cause chaos among Russian ranks.
Hero of Crimea
On August 24, 2023, Ukrainian Independence Day, Timur raised the Ukrainian flag in Crimea.
It was the first time the flag had flown there in nearly 10 years of Russian occupation.
The symbolic act made him a hero across Ukraine and signaled that Crimea was not beyond Kyiv’s reach.
Crimea Raid: “The Force Awakens”
Using boats and jet skis, the unit traveled 200 km across the Black Sea to strike a Russian base in Crimea.
The target was a key electronic warfare hub used to jam Ukrainian missiles.
“We can appear anywhere at any time,” Timur said after the raid.
The mission, “Produdjenia sili” (The Force Awakens), was hailed as a major military victory.
Specialists in Irregular Warfare
The Timur Unit is made up of about 20 smaller teams, each with its own expertise.
Some focus on drone warfare, others on amphibious raids or sabotage deep in enemy territory.
“It is probably one of the first units, since World War II, to successfully conduct deep raids,” said Dmytro Jmailo of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation.
Battles Across Ukraine
The unit played a key role in defending the “road of life” supply route in Bakhmut during some of the war’s fiercest fighting.
It also led the operation to liberate Snake Island in the Black Sea, a strategic point used by Russian forces early in the invasion.
These missions cemented the unit’s reputation for operating under extreme pressure.
Tracking Russian Mercenaries
Beyond Ukraine, the Timur Unit has hunted Wagner Group mercenaries in Africa.
Military analyst Ivan Stupak calls them “well-motivated, battle-tested, and extremely effective.”
Their global reach sends a message that Russian forces can be targeted anywhere.
Nearly 1,000 Casualties in Sumy
During the Sumy operation, Timur’s troops fought in trenches, forests, and coordinated air assaults.
Nearly 1,000 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded, according to GUR.
The attack combined ground combat with aerial bombardments to shatter Russia’s advance.
Blocking Russia in Kharkiv
In May, the unit launched a helicopter assault to prevent Russian troops from crossing the Oskil River.
They struck 600 shelters, nine ammunition depots, and eight enemy river crossings.
The action stopped an attempted push toward the town of Kupiansk, a key northern stronghold.
Sudan Operations
Ukraine sent 100 Timur troops to Sudan to aid the national army in fighting Wagner-backed rebels.
They trained Sudanese soldiers in drone warfare and led night raids in Khartoum.
The operation helped liberate parts of the capital from rebel control.
“We Catch Up With Them”
“Wherever there are soldiers, officers, or people involved with the special services of the Russian Federation, we catch up with them,” Timur said.
The statement reflects the unit’s mission: no location is beyond their reach.
