| Presidential Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Great emblem of the Kremlin Regiment | |
| Active | 1936[1] – present |
| Country |  Russia |
| Branch | Federal Protective Service |
| Role | Public duties Security of the Presidency of Russia and the Moscow Kremlin |
| Part of | Commandant's Office of the Moscow Kremlin |
| Motto(s) | Верность, Честь, Долг (Russian) Fidelity,Honour,Duty |
| Equipment | SKS |
| Engagements | Great Patriotic War |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner Order of the October Revolution |
| Commanders | |
| Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin | Major General Sergey Udovenko |
| Regimental Commander | Major General Andrey Filyakin[2] |
| Notable commanders | Major General Oleg Galkin |
TheKremlin Regiment (Russian:Кремлёвский полк,romanized: Kremlyovskiy polk), also called thePresidential Regiment (Russian:Президентский полк,romanized: Prezidentskiy polk), is a unique military regiment and part of the RussianFederal Protective Service with the status of a special unit. The regiment ensures the security of theKremlin, its treasures, and state officials. In accordance with the federal law of December 8, 1997 "On Immortalizing the Soviet People’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945", the regiment also maintains aguard of honor (Russian:Почётный караул) at theeternal flame of theTomb of the Unknown Soldier known asPost No. 1. The regiment is housed in the historicKremlin Arsenal.
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When the leaders of the Soviet Union moved fromPetrograd to theMoscow Kremlin in early 1918, their protection was entrusted to the RedLatvian Riflemen, under the command of theCommandant of the Kremlin Garrison. In September 1918, the Latvian Riflemen left for the fronts of theCivil War, and they were replaced by the officer cadets of the1st WPKA Soviet Joint Military School "All-Russian Central Executive Committee" that were redeployed into the Kremlin for this purpose. In 1924, they were assigned with the duty to guard Lenin's Mausoleum by orders of the ARCEC.
In October 1935, the officers' academy left the Kremlin for the Moscow district of Lefortovo and a Special Purpose Battalion was created to replace them on Kremlin and Mausoleum guard duties. On January 28, 1936, the battalion – and the Kremlin Garrison (Komendatura Kremlya), to which it was subordinated – were transferred from the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR to thePeople's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the USSR. The UKMK and the 1st Division were separate public security units with neither subordinate to the other, which would not prevent them collaborating closely in Kremlin security activities.
On April 8, 1936, in accordance with Order No. 122 for the Moscow Kremlin Garrison, the Special Purpose Battalion became the Special Purpose Regiment; this day is considered the birthday of the regiment. However, the Regiment's Day is celebrated annually on May 7. Since in recent years the date has also been the day of Russian presidential inaugurations, the new President of Russia, following his oath-taking ceremony, receives the salute of the regiment on this day.
When theGreat Patriotic War began in 1941, the units of the Kremlin Garrison were made responsible for defending the Kremlin, where the State Defense Committee and Chief Military Headquarters were located. On June 25, 1941, the Commandant of the Garrison ordered the regiment to reinforce the defenses, and the regiment set up round-the-clock guard on the Kremlin walls. In 1942–1943 four groups ofsnipers from the Kremlin Regiment were sent to theWestern andVolkhov Fronts. The snipers killed more than 1,200 German soldiers and officers, losing only 97 men in combat.[3] On February 23, 1944, the Kremlin Regiment was decorated with theOrder of the Red Banner. Three battalions from the regiment took part in theMoscow Victory Parade of 1945 onRed Square.
In 1952 the regiment was reorganized into the Separate Special Purpose Regiment. On May 7, 1965, it was decorated with theOrder of the Red Banner for its military achievements during the Great Patriotic War. On May 8, 1967, the regiment took part in the unveiling ceremony of theTomb of the Unknown Soldier in theAlexander Garden. In 1973 the unit was renamed the Separate Red Banner Kremlin Regiment, later receiving anOrder of the October Revolution. Before being deprived of Mausoleum guard duties in 1993 as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the constitutional crisis of that year, the regiment finally received its current designation in accordance with a presidential decree of March 20 that year, this time under the Federal Protective Service. Since 1997 the Kremlin Regiment has resumed guard duties by presidential decree on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Eternal Flame, keeping alive the legacy of those who served on the Eastern Front.
On September 2, 2002, on the basis of the 11th Cavalry Regiment (theMoscow Military District movie-making cavalry unit) a cavalry escort unit was formed as part of the Presidential Regiment. Starting in 2004 aGuard Mounting ceremony has been held on Cathedral Square on Sundays, from March to October.
On May 7, 2006, the regiment gained a new regimental color modeled on the ones used by the Imperial Guard units. Around that time it also acquired special ceremonial uniforms closely modeled on those worn on parade by the infantry and the cavalry of the Russian Imperial Guard until 1914. These are worn in addition to modern style dress uniforms adapted from those utilised during the Soviet period. The historical uniform is in the historical wave-green colouring with cornflower blue piping and facings, whereas the modern dress uniform is a navy blue with cornflower blue piping. The historical dress uniform is a closed-collar tunic with a cornflower blue plastron, whereas the modern dress uniform is an open-collar jacket with a white dress shirt and tie. Shoulder boards are entirely ceremonial for both uniforms, both in entirely different designs, despite the ranks of the troops being the same between each. For both, only officers have ranks displayed. When in modern dress uniforms, soldiers wearpeaked caps with a Soviet-style wreathed cockade. For historical dress, troops wearshakos with a sunburst Imperial eagle emblem. In historical dress, enlisted soldiers wear white belts and officers wear silver sash belts. In modern dress, all soldiers wear golden aigulettes and golden belts. In historical dress,gorgets are reflective of imperial officer insignia, whereas in modern dress, these are reflective of the Soviet general insignia. For both, white gloves, tall jackboots are worn and eitherSKS rifles or sabres are carried. During winter, double-breasted greatcoats are worn, these are gray for the historical dress uniform and navy blue for the modern dress uniform. The Regiment's Presidential Band wears white uniforms similar to those by the Imperial Guard bands of the late 19th century. The regiments casual dress is navy blue and features either a peaked cap or cornflower blueberet.
Uniforms based on the ones used by the infantry of the Regiment during the Second World War were worn for the first time by a platoon from the 1st Honor Guard Company during the 2015Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo.
On April 16, 2016, the Guard Mounting that day featured the first woman officer to serve in the Cavalry Squadron, the first time this had happened in a guard changing ceremony.[4] This was also the first to be live streamed online.[5]
ThePresidential Band of the Russian Federation serves as the officialmilitary band for thePresident of Russia, playing at official ceremonies and receptions for high-ranking officials. it is affiliated with theMilitary Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia.
The cavalry escort takes part in theRussian presidential inauguration, as well as theMoscow Victory Day Parade onRed Square. Historically, it has taken part in processions on 7 November, specifically in1941,1967 and1987. In certain parades, it is the only unit to represent the FSO on parade. Since 2005 the Cavalry Escort Squadron wears, on select occasions, dress and service uniforms worn by the cavalry units of the Red Army and the NKVD. In addition, since 2004, the cavalry has been participating in the changing of the guard on Cathedral Square and annually performs a demonstration program at the races for the President's Prize.[9]
