Chosen Company
| Chosen Company | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | February 2022 – Present |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch | International Legion |
| Role | Shock troops |
| Motto(s) | Voluntas, Virtus, Violentia |
| Engagements | Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
| Website | https://thechosencompany.org/ |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Ryan O'Leary |
| Notable Commanders | Edvard Selander Patrignani † |
Chosen Company previously known as the 312. VOLUNTEER COMPANY is a pro-Ukraine volunteer unit fighting in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is primarily made up of citizens from the United States but also includes volunteers from over 31 different countries.[1] The company is currently lead by American military veteran Ryan O’Leary.[2]
History
The company was formed in 2022 during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine as the 312 Volunteer company. The company was lead by Swedish military veteran Edvard Selander Patrignani until his death on 18 July 2022.[3] At the start of 2023, the company was renamed Chosen Company and became attached to the 59th Motorized Brigade.[4] The company fought in the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[5]
War crimes accusations
In 2024, German medical officer Caspar Grosse reached out to the New York Times to talk about three incidents where members of Chosen Company killed Russian POWs. In the first incident dated August 2023,a severely injured, unarmed Russian soldier was crawling through a trench and begging for help in a mix of broken English and Russian. The Russian was then shot in the chest by a member of Chosen Company. When the Russian soldier continued to move and breathe, another fighter shot him in the head.[6]
The second incident involved a Greek volunteer who goes by the callsign "Zeus". Zeus threw a grenade at two Russian soldiers, one who was unable to move due to his injuries and another soldier who had his hands up.[7]
In the third incident which Grosse said happened in mid-October 2023. Gross received a text message from a member of the unit who goes by the call sign "Andok". The text read "got these captures" with an attached image showing Russian POWs bound and shot dead by Zeus, who later bragged about the killing. Andok later defended Zeus by saying that he was "just doing his job."[8]
On 6 July 2024, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that it had launched an investigation on Chosen Company.[9]
Structure
As of July 2024 the company's structure is as follows:
- Chosen Company
- 1st Rifle Platoon
- 2nd Rifle Platoon
- 3rd Recon Platoon
- 4th Drone Squad
- 5th Pioneer Squad
- 6th Support Platoon
References
- ^ https://thechosencompany.org/
- ^ https://medium.com/@RachelPAV/story-time-with-chosen-company-surviving-a-grenade-d70d075d2565
- ^ https://militardebatt.com/2022/07/21/minnesord-lojtnant-edvard-selander-gav-sitt-liv-for-ukraina/
- ^ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-20/australian-man-killed-in-ukraine-war/103123870
- ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/helmet-cam-us-fighters-in-ukraines-chosen-company-rush-russian-trench-2023-9
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/06/world/europe/ukraine-russia-killings-us.html
- ^ https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/foreign-mercs-committing-war-crimes-against-russian-pows#:~:text=Members%20of%20the%20Chosen%20Company,by%20the%20New%20York%20Times.
- ^ https://www.malaysiasun.com/news/274446223/western-mercenaries-killed-russian-pows-german-medic
- ^ https://europeanschoolofesthetics.ca/7jkece/8itoeda116944Pcdki91d50.htm