| Black Maple Company | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the Black Maple Company | |
| Founded | March 2022 |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Type | Foreign volunteer |
| Role | Urban Warfare Mine Clearance Patrolling Irregular warfare Reconnaissance Special operations Intelligence |
| Size | Unknown |
| Part of |  International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine |
| Garrison/HQ | Kyiv |
| Motto | Memento Mori |
| Engagements | Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
| Website | blackmaplecompany |
TheBlack Maple Company is a multinational volunteer unit fighting in the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Black Maple Company was founded in March 2022 and was formed by veterans and volunteers from Canada.[1] It is attached to theInternational Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.[2]
The company was created around early March 2022, as a reaction to the announcement by Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy that an international fighting force would be created to help defend Ukrainian independence against the Russian invasion. Two soldiers of the company, one who goes by the callsign "Speedy" and one who goes by the callsign "Tanto" were interviewed byCTV National News on 26 February 2023.[3] Tanto, said he decided to come to Ukraine after seeing videos of children on the crossing theUkraine-Polish border with only a passport and a teddy bear. As for Speedy, he felt it was his duty, saying, “I wanted to help fight, help the population.”
Speedy and Tanto, and a thirdFrench-Canadian, Francis Dion (callsign "Shadow"), later launched Black Maple Company's website where people can purchasemerchandise with the unit's insignia, a Skull with acombat knife through its head with two AK style rifles behind it. On the magazines of the rifles is the company's motto: "Memento Mori" which is aLatin phrase meaning "remember you must die". Part of the proceeds will go toward helping their fellow fighters injured in battle and for fundraising for the unit.[3] The company has been involved in theBattle of Kyiv, theBattle of Bakhmut, and the2023 Ukrainian Counteroffensive.[4][5][6][7]
On 13 May 2024, the unit's co-founder "Speedy" was awarded the medal "For courage in performing special tasks" for his actions during the2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[8]
