Kontakt-12 Expands to Artillery Recon Battalion

Kontakt-12 Special Purpose Unit, as part of the Azov Brigade’s Artillery Group, announced that it was undergoing an expansion through its social channels via Telegram and Instagram, becoming the Artillery Reconnaissance Battalion.

“We are expanding on a large scale. We have dozens of vacancies, new opportunities, a focus on results, and a real family, We are looking for worthy comrades who wish to transfer from other units and motivated recruits without combat experience.” stated the announcement.

About Kontakt-12

The Kontakt-12 unit was formed on May 25, 2023 by veterans of the Azov Regiment who had fought during the defense of Mariupol in 2022, defending the besieged city for 86 consecutive days. It was founded by Nazarii Hryntsevych, callsign “Hrenka”, one of the youngest fighters in the entire Azov who had served as a combat medic during the siege of Mariupol, where he celebrated his nineteenth birthday in the Azovstal complex.

Since the creation of the unit, it attracted many volunteers to join the brigade, emphasizing the preservation of life, an effective combat formation, and a brotherhood. The unit participated in many combat operations since its formation, carrying out many reconnaissance operations throughout late 2023 and early 2024 in the Serebryansky Forest.

On May 7, 2024, it was announced that the commander of the unit, Hrenka, had been killed in action by Russian forces amidst combat operations in the Serebryansky Forest. He had served as the commander of optical observations in the unit. Since his death, the unit has continued his legacy of serving as a reconnaissance unit, and with this recent expansion, highlights the effectiveness and competence of this particular formation.